Trigger finger/injection

[Harefieldfan]

Hi I have a trigger finger which interferes with my violin playing (as well as hurts!) I know the classic treatment is a steroid injection but I also know that they don’t give them to people on ‘blood thinners’. Does anyone know of an alternative? I wear a splint at night but just at night. Thanks.

[Hidden]

Hello

I need a steroid injection in my shoulder

I had a triple Bypass and was on Ticagrelor as well as 75mg Aspirin

I am no longer taking Ticagrelor which is a blood thinner still on 75mg Aspirin

My surgeon and my Doctor have both told me now I am just on 75mg Aspirin when I am ready I am now safe to have the steroid injection I need for my shoulder

I wonder how many blood thinners you are on and if after a while you will be coming of any as you may then be able to have the steroid injection you need

Worth speaking to your Doctor about and what alternatives there might be x

[Harefieldfan in reply to Hidden]

Hi. I’m on aspirin and Ticagrelor. I have to get referred in any case. May take my GP a while! I’ve been told to stay on Ticagrelor until November — a year after my second stent.

[Hidden in reply to Harefieldfan]

Hello

Yes they usually keep you on it for a year

I am not sure how long you can cope with the pain as I know only to well what pain is like but after November when you are of it they may let you have the injection then

I really hope you find a way round this for you x

[Simes11]

I received a steroid injection for a very painful ‘Frozen Shoulder’ whilst on 75mg of aspirin. No problems and NO more pain in the shoulder within a few days of the injection. 👍

[Harefieldfan]

That’s encouraging, Heartifact.

[Harefieldfan]

Thanks!

[hanne6263]

My husband had a steroid injection for trigger finger while on apixaban. It was effective, with no complications. Ask your GP.

[Hidden]

I required a steroid injection for my foot (long story!). I am on aspirin and whereas that would not have prevented the injection, the initial appointment was delayed since at the time I was taking an antibiotic. I'm afraid my experience with injections is not good. Over the years I have had them for conditions in my foot (as above), shoulder, both wrists, for plantar fascitis (at least twice), and in all cases they were only successful for at best a few months.

[Lucymoo]

Hi there should be no problem having a steroid injection when on anticoagulants. You stop the anticoagulant two days before and restart 1 day later. My GP in writing advised my physio that he was happy with this when I was wanting a steroid injection into my knee

[Handel]

Hi there. I'm type one diabetic and on 75mg aspirin but have no heart issues.Our doctor had no hesitation injecting my wrist in February for trigger finger/carpal tunnel and there was no mark or bleeding at all. Quality of life can be really affected so I would have a word with your medical professional.

On another note, my husband had a quad bypass in 2018 and was on Clopidogrel and a host of other drugs. Because he had a raging toothache, our dentist in consultation with our doctor, told him to come off Clopidogrel before he had the tooth drilled and fixed. He was off Clopidogrel for 4 days.

Sorry for waffling but hope this helps. All the very best. Jan xxxx

[Southeastgirl in reply to Handel]

I'm also type 1 and have high blood pressure. Right now I've got a trigger thumb and suspected carpel tunnel with pins and needles at night. Been going to a physio and they haven't helped. The appointment at hospital for assuming a injection keeps getting postponed now till October. Last night in such agony with pins and needles 😖 Just wondering how to they diagnose carpel tunnel?

Guess I need to get on the GP case but prolly isn't anything they can do to rush a hospital appointment......

[Handel in reply to Southeastgirl]

Hi Hannah. My doctor injects my wrist (he has an injection clinic every 2 weeks) and I'm currently on the waiting list for another injection (apparently 3 injections each year?).The first injection worked well for about 4 months and then it came back.

I also have pins and needles and can't manage silly things like picking stuff up, opening doors with a key and doing buttons up!!!

The doctor also says I have something called Dupuytren's Contracture in the same hand.

I did look online for a private injection/operation and that didn't seem too costly!

I'll wait and see how things go.

I hope you get some help soon. It's an awful condition that stops you doing things and affects your sleep too!!!!

Lots of love. Jan xxx

[Southeastgirl in reply to Handel]

Ahh...very interesting, thanks for that reply. I thought the injection worked or didn't, didn't know u had to keep doing them. Definitely I will have a chat to my doctor to see if I can get them through them instead of going through the hospital. My diabetes consultant said pins and needles sometimes come along with diabetes, not as a complication but just as a side effect LOL. Makes even unscrewing baby bottles complicated 😑

Otherwise yeah I'll look into going private as well, that's a good idea

Xx

[Handel in reply to Southeastgirl]

Our doctor said if I got some relief from the first injection, if I needed a second one, the chances were that it would be cured!! I'm hopeful but still have that Dupuytren's Contracture in the same hand!!!Carpal tunnel definitely causes pins and needles - mine goes from the elbow right down through the hand and fingers!!

Opening jars is a laugh!!!!!

I've been a Type 1 diabetic for almost 40 years and have no real complications yet (apart from background retinopathy in my left eye that doesn't cause any bother).

Good luck with it all. Lots of love. Jan xxx

[Southeastgirl in reply to Handel]

Wow....that sounds horrible being down from the elbow! 😧 So far mine is just the fingers and brace/splint seems to make the pain worse some nights, almost like the lack of circulation restriction 🤷‍♀️

Good for you being 40 years with not many complications! I'm only into it 26 years have have more than background retinopathy, think it's called pre-proliferative but they still just keeping an eye on it, no treatment yet. Unfortunately it came along after my 1st pregnancy. Also have high blood pressure and slightly raised cholesterol, hence being on this helpful forum. This carpal tunnel is just since beginning of this year so hope nothing else is added to the drama! 😌

Take care of yourself too 🤗🤗

[Handel in reply to Southeastgirl]

Hi Hannah. I've also got high blood pressure and cholesterol but I'm on tablets for both!!!I really hope you get the help you need. Lots of love. Jan xxx

[Southeastgirl in reply to Handel]

On tablets for blood pressure without any problem. Haven't found a cholesterol one that agrees with me yet. Have tried 3 statins, 2 of them muscle aches and the other terrible stomach pain, so have to be brave enough to try out another one Cholesterol is 5.5 so not sure if that's a lot to worry about but that say with being diabetic should be under 4...

[Handel in reply to Southeastgirl]

Hi Hannah. I was told my cholesterol levels should be below 3!! It's very stubborn at 4.1.I've been on Atorvastatin 40mg for 20 years with no problem I don't think, although I do have shoulder problems but there's a reason for that!!

I was on Simvastatin before that but it played havoc with tummy!!

I hope you get sorted out soon. Diabetes isn't easy is it!!!

Lots of love. Jan xxx

[Southeastgirl in reply to Handel]

Ok, interesting about being under 3! Probably yet another thing I should pursue getting sorted 😌

Both simvastatin and atorvastatin were painful legs, hardly could walk two blocks and rosuvastatin was the most terrible food poisoning feeling I have ever felt in my life. My dad has found only repatha injections worked, he couldnt handle any statins either. Sounds like repatha is a bit harder to get in the UK. He's in the US.

I do have to say the CGM since being on it over a year now has made my diabetes and quality of life soooo much better. I have HBA1C of 7 where I struggled to get it under 9 before 😊 Definitely recommend to anyone. Prolly should be direct messaging u about diabetes related instead of a blood pressure forum but nice to chat to someone who has similar health issues! Xx

[Handel in reply to Southeastgirl]

I think I've just joined the Ideal Diabetes Forum on Health Unlocked! I'm technologically challenged!!!! Jan xxx

[Southeastgirl in reply to Handel]

I've just joined that one too😊

Hope it's more active than the one I'm already on Diabetes Research & Wellness Foundation 😂 dosen't get my much traffic

[Qualipop]

My husband had the operation on his; a big zig zag cut down his palm to release the tendon but after a year of physio it's as bad as ever it was. His brother also had it and that failed too.

[MaggieSylvie]

Hi fellow fiddler, I have just stopped playing due to spinal compression fractures. Sometimes get a sort of cramp in fingers but force them back in shape and keep playing. Perhaps what I have is not the same. I have never bothered the doctor. She would have been useless.

[Harefieldfan in reply to MaggieSylvie]

Hi MaggieSylvie. I push it back into shape too. 4th finger, left hand. Important! I’m going to try the doctor though I don’t think she’ll be much good and I’m sure the referral will take ages. Thanks so much everyone for all of your comments. Very encouraging. I won’t let the possibility of bleeding deter me.

[HectorsDad]

Hi, I’m waiting for a Carpal Tunnel release operation, but also have trigger finger issues. The specialist says the best treatment for both is the same- try the steroid injection then surgery if it returns or doesn’t work. However to one look at my medical history and list of meds (HA, stents etc, Microvascular Angina) and said that he would not give steroids, and would refer me straight to surgery. He also said that he would insist he did it in person and at the main hospital that has a cardio unit available, and not at one of the smaller local hospitals they generally use for minor surgery. It’s only a quick operation under local anaesthetic, but would insist the back up is there, just in case.

[Hidden in reply to HectorsDad]

Steroid injections were only a short lived solution for very painful carpal tunnel conditions in both of my hands/wrist/arms. However, although I had both done at the same time (it took about half an hour or less in theatre) which was a bit debilitating for a few weeks, it has been a complete success. Hope you get the same outcome.