Night splint as a remedy for chronic tendovaginitis - NRAS

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Night splint as a remedy for chronic tendovaginitis

anvi123 profile image
2 Replies

I have been diagnosed with non-stenosing tendovaginitis (also called trigger finger) on the 4th and 5th fingers of my right hand. The problem has been going on for 7 months now, two months ago my doctor started a treatment with a custom made splint to wear during the nigth, which holds my two fingers in a semi-bent position, but things have only got worst since then.

It's not clear to me what is the benefit of wearing a splint at night in a position that is basically the same that my fingers assume without a splint, I asked my doctor and she said that this is to avoid the contraction of the fingers that happens during the R.E.M. phase of the sleep. Does anybody know about this (specifically, what is the reasoning behind using a splint to treat trigger finger)?.

I also told my doctor that on the Mayo Clinic site I read that the splint should keep the fingers in an extended position instead of semi-bent, but she said that Mayo Clinic was wrong.

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anvi123 profile image
anvi123
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2 Replies
nomoreheels profile image
nomoreheels

Hiya anvi123. I couldn't cope with the finger splint either but mine the one I used was designed to keep my finger straight. Originally mine was my middle finger left hand which started troubling me in March after a Registrar took me off my steroids & NSAID the previous January. I went to my GP who reintroduced the steroid & I mentioned my finger but he said it wasn't trigger finger. As I'd been suffering inflammation having been taken off 2 meds it stood to reason in my mind that this could be as a result of this & flaring & wasn't convinced my GP was right so asked the good people here who were of the opinion it was & when I sorted the splint.

By my next Rheumy appointment in July it was pretty much stuck in the bent position triggering infrequently. Generally the first treatment is with NSAID or splinting but I was told it was particularly bad & I already take an NSAID for RD so she gave me a steroid injection. She did tell me the likelihood was if it didn't last long she wouldn't inject it again & she would refer me for surgery to cut the sheath. The injection wore off after 4 months & now all 4 fingers on my left hand are triggering upon waking. I've put off reporting it as I'm relied upon for driving just now as my h is recovering from a heart op but intend to mention it at my Rheumy nurse appointment in June.

I'm not sure if you're in the US but treatments can vary between the UK & the US so generally I find it's best to use the websites for where you live for research as they follow that countries guidelines, the FDA in the US & NICE in the UK. I also found the Mayo Clinic site somewhat biased toward whichever drug company or medical appliance company is sponsoring the page regarding a specific condition, WebMD too so I avoid using those & prefer such sites as NHS choices or Patient.co.uk or even NICE. I also have access to many professional websites, even more useful! There are many sites out there which aren't too reliable so I find it's always best to check a few to see if they concur.

I hope my experience helps. if you'd like further info you'll find it here, assuming you're in the UK! nhs.uk/Conditions/Trigger-f...

I would think your Rheumy will be able to help you if you're not getting any benefit from the splint. It can be such a nuisance can't it? ;)

allanah profile image
allanah in reply to nomoreheels

I wear splints too but the Rheumy referred me to a hand specialist and I'm getting more support from them . Hope it gets sorted soon, they are uncomfortable I find x

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