What trigger finger feels like

It often starts small. A finger feels stiff in the morning, or there is a tender bump at the base of it, in the palm. Then one day the finger catches as you straighten it and releases with a snap. Some people have to pry the finger open with the other hand. In more advanced cases, the finger stays locked in a bent position.

The condition is called trigger finger, and its medical name is stenosing tenosynovitis. It can affect any finger, and the thumb is one of the most common. More than one finger can be involved at the same time. Symptoms often come and go at first, which is why many people put off having it checked.

What’s happening inside the finger

The tendons that bend your fingers glide through a series of snug tunnels, called pulleys, that hold them close to the bone. When the tendon or its lining becomes inflamed and thickened, it no longer slides smoothly through the first pulley near the base of the finger. A small nodule can form on the tendon. When that nodule catches on the edge of the pulley and then pushes through, you feel the click or snap.

Trigger finger is more common in people with diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis, in people over 40, and in people whose work or hobbies involve repeated, forceful gripping. Often there is no single clear cause.

Signs it’s time to see a hand specialist

  • Catching, clicking, or popping when you bend or straighten a finger
  • A tender lump in the palm at the base of a finger or thumb
  • Stiffness that is worst first thing in the morning
  • A finger that locks bent and has to be straightened with the other hand
  • A finger you can no longer fully straighten or fully bend
  • Trouble gripping tools, a steering wheel, or your phone

Other conditions can look similar. Arthritis, tendon injuries, Dupuytren’s contracture, and cysts can all cause stiffness or lumps in the hand. A careful exam sorts out which one you are dealing with, so treatment targets the right problem instead of a guess.

Treatment options

Trigger finger often improves with conservative care, especially when it is caught early. Depending on how long you have had symptoms and how severe they are, options a specialist may discuss include resting the hand from the activities that aggravate it, splinting to limit motion for a period of time, gentle exercises, and injections to calm inflammation around the tendon. Many people never need anything more.

When a finger stays locked, or symptoms keep coming back despite conservative treatment, a minor procedure to release the pulley may be recommended. Idaho Shoulder to Hand focuses on accurate diagnosis and non-surgical treatment of hand and wrist conditions. If a procedure turns out to be the right answer, we help place you with the right surgeon for your hand.

Don’t wait on a locking finger

Forcing a stuck finger open again and again can irritate it further, and a finger that has been locked for a long time may be harder to fully straighten later. Fall and winter can make things more noticeable, too. Cold mornings tend to make stiff fingers feel stiffer, and seasonal chores like raking, splitting wood, and gripping a snow shovel all load the same tendons.

Hand symptoms are easy to ignore until they start getting in the way of work, hobbies, and simple daily tasks. You don’t need to wait until then. If your finger or thumb is catching, snapping, or stiffening, schedule an evaluation with Idaho Shoulder to Hand in Boise. We’ll pinpoint the cause and help you choose the right next step for your hand.