Trigger finger

[fionam]

I have this problem - one finger on each hand. Can anyone recommend a good finger splint for use overnight?

[Hidden]

I had night gloves from the occupational therapist at the hospital but it did not stop my fingers from becoming deformed started with one finer then all are now swaning at the end and the inner knuckles are fuse in just 6 months but everybody is different

[fionam in reply to Hidden]

I have some compression gloves ( don't know if that's what you have) but they don't stop my fingers bending.

[Hidden in reply to fionam]

Yes that's what I have could not think what they we're called the trigger finger can get painful I was given hand splints but nothing has worked

[helixhelix]

Can you ask to be referred to your hospital's physio department, as they should be able to advise on the best type for you.

[fionam]

Yes - I'll ask- don't want to use the wrong thing and do more harm than good.

[Kariss]

My thumb has just finally recovered from trigger finger (it's taken 12 weeks) and I have kept it in a homemade splint for the whole time. I used a wide piece of conforming tape the length of my thumb wrapped round it a couple of times. Conforming tape is great, you can buy it at Boots, about £5.00 or Poundland £1.00 for a big roll. It sticks to itself so no pins or tape necessary and can be quickly replaced and chucked away when dirty or wet. It has been a lifesaver- I was going nuts trying not to bend my thumb because it would pop and lock and was so painful to manipulate back into place. This held it firm. The doctor okay-ed my method and offered me a steroid injection if it continued but I put that on hold, persevered with my splint, wore it day and night and it has worked!

I also purchased an expensive splint made of plastic called an Oval 8 but think I got the size wrong as it was hard to guess. It worked in holding the thumb straight but made it sore. However I think these can be got through an OT department ( correctly sized!)

Good luck, hope this helps.

[fionam in reply to Kariss]

Thanks very much - that's really helpful.

[Kariss in reply to fionam]

I was getting so desperate that I actually started off by taping my thumb up with masking tape and a bit of gauze before I found the conforming tape....but I don't recommend this method! However, any port in a storm as they say!

[Matilda7]

I've recently been referred to a hand surgeon, because one finger doesn't work properly..my GP referred me to physio and they referred me on. They are going to do ultra sound scans now to decide what to do next. Worth asking your GP to try this route.

[fionam]

If I don't have any luck with some sort of splint I'll have to try that. Thanks

[Matilda7 in reply to fionam]

I asked about a splint and they said no, it might make things worse. Instead I have some exercises to do....which I keep forgetting!

[fionam]

There are some suggestions for exercises on YouTube so I'll give those a try!

[Matilda7 in reply to fionam]

I managed to irritate my ulna nerve by being too enthusiastic about the exercises, so as with everything, balance is needed.

I've also used acupuncture successfully when I was having problems with the finger triggering, which it no longer does, but it doesn't bend fully, hence the referral to physio.

[Tinwoman2]

I had the steroid shot into several trigger fingers and that fixed them. One I had to have shots in twice. Now my thumb has been locking up but isn't painful-yet. When it does get painful I'll get it shot & see if that helps.

[nomoreheels]

I tried splinting mine just at night, not during the day. My GP at the time (now retired!) said it wasn't trigger finger so it was left & it ended up more or less permanently in the locked position, that is until 3 months later at my regular Rheumy appointment. She couldn't understand why my GP thought it wasn't TF & said it was now severe. She gave me a steroid injection into the tendon sheath but thought it may not be successful & I would likely need a small op to widen the sheath but fortunately it worked. When I have widespread inflammation it triggers but only intermittently.

[moomie]

My OT have me a small plastic splint. She said to wear it continually for two weeks. This did help because no bending my thumb so no clicking and pain.

She did measure sizing was difficult because of swelling.

I do still wear it on the days it gets bad and find it helps.

[ShellyC23]

I bought a pack of 10 black stretchy finger supports from Amazon - I wear one on each hand at night and they are quite effective at preventing my fingers from locking in my sleep. Really cheap too, only a couple of pounds for the pack

[fionam in reply to ShellyC23]

This sounds good- definitely worth a try.

[Oldgoatlady]

I bought mine at Walgreens & some stretch gauze. Wear every night. Doesn't hurt when I wake up now.