Trigger Finger: Have you dealt with it? How?

treeguy64

treeguy64

Hari Om, y'all!
Location
Austin, TX.
I have fairly major trigger finger in my left thumb. It started when a drill seized, and jerked my thumb. I have soaked it in warm water, iced it, vibrated it, put Arnica on it, exercised it, gently. When I wake up, in the morning, it's ok. Within a half hour, it freezes up, yet again. Before I go to an MD for a shot of cortisone, I thought I'd check, in here, to see what your experiences have been. Trigger finger=Stenosing tenosynovitis.
 

Oddly enough for the last 3 days or more my right thumb got swelled up some and actually clicks when I move it which hurts.
Not outrageously so but it no longer bends smoothly and unfortunately I have absolutely no idea what I did to it so I’ll be interested in this thread also.
 
Never had it but it reminds me of toe or finger cramps that make the toes or fingers involuntarily curl up until relaxed. Magnesium oil has worked on that for me, and other cramps in the foot or leg too. Relief comes within seconds. Suggestion of a good brand to use here.
 

I had a thumb joint that started locking on me. Not much pain but it was not normal. Looking for an oil for psoriasis I stumbled on to an oil called Jungle Balm. I rubbed it in to the joint for about 10 days or so and it cured it. It has not reoccurred for a year. It is Lawang oil according to the bottle. I just searched for Lawang oil and it is a product of India. I swear by this stuff and a little goes a long way. The site for my stuff is junglebalm.com.au
 
I used to get a cramp in my thumbs when I did a bunch of work requiring some tight "gripping". I mentioned that to my doctor, a couple of years ago, and he said that a low level of Potassium is usually the cause....and he recommended that I eat a banana every day. I started eating a banana at breakfast after that, and haven't had a repeat since.
 
I figured out what caused my sore thumb that keeps clicking. My new soprano saxophone. It’s straight and my thumb holds it up. I have to figure out an alternative way of practising or I’ll permanently damage it if I haven’t already.
 
I was on estrogen blockers after having breast cancer and suddenly developed carpal tunnel syndrome and trigger fingers in both hands. The doctor pretty much "blew off" the meds as the cause of it but I read that it was common for this to happen with those drugs. Anyway,I had surgery on my left hand and that took care of it. I was supposed to wait until my left hand was entirely healed and then go back in for the right. I kept putting it off,as having my left hand immobilized for 3 weeks was bad enough-I was not looking forward to having my right hand unusable. But during that time,I gave up on the estrogen blockers. They gave me extreme pain in my hips,shoulders,ankles,knees (statins do the same thing to me)so I just said forget it. My quality of life was awful. Lo and behold,not long after I stopped the meds,my right hand "healed" itself. No more trigger fingers and no more carpal tunnel pain. So glad I never had the second surgery.
 
Since I posted the original entry, here, I've done research and found a way to lessen the whole trigger finger effect.

First off, it seems that many of the medical "expert" sites, online, are simply business as usual, for the medical establishment: They want to push treatments for the symptom without getting at the cause. Shots, surgery, splints, etc., are all covered. Of course, if you choose to go that route, the doctors are quite happy to oblige you, since they rake in the money for the various treatments.

Luckily, I found a site that gets into the cause of this malady, and how to treat the same. The generally accepted cause of trigger finger made no sense to me. I read about nodules on the tendon and how they prevented the tendon from smoothly sliding in its sheath.

Well, I found that implausible, since my symptoms went away, completely, as soon as I began working and using my hands. Trigger finger only came back at night, when I was inactive. With nodules, the cessation of symptoms didn't add up: If they were there, they were there!

The site I found told me that the symptom was caused by muscles shortening, over time, due to heavy, stressful use and improper movement.

Several exercises were given. I did those exercises and found almost immediate relief!

I have posted the link, below, and wish everyone good luck, with it:

https://bottomlineinc.com/blogs/pain-relief-in-motion/best-trigger-finger-cure
 
I had it come on in one finger on my left hand while playing bridge and holding the cards. It didn't hurt but had to unlock it...then it went away on its own.

Since then and that was maybe 10 yrs ago OA has just worsened overall and if I sleep with hands bent I have to unlock a couple fingers.

So often our body takes care of many issues. Just keep working the fingers etc and I'd never get a steroid shot in there for that, they do more damage overall. I'd have to be in brutal pain...
 
jaminhealth said:
I had it come on in one finger on my left hand while playing bridge and holding the cards. It didn't hurt but had to unlock it...then it went away on its own.

Since then and that was maybe 10 yrs ago OA has just worsened overall and if I sleep with hands bent I have to unlock a couple fingers.
Click to expand...
That happens to me with my thumb. If I bang it I have to pull my thumb out and unlock it or I can’t straighten it.
It really hurts. My husband is encouraging me to get it checked out so I think I might. See what they have to say.

Is that what you mean by unlock it Jamin’?
 
My thumbs don't lock but do have arthritis in them. Don't hurt, but my middle finger on my left hand is the one that has locked and I just have to kinda pry it up to unlock...when this has happened it doesn't hurt either. It's all arthritis related. Good to use some topicals on hands if they are OA bothered...some good oils before bed and rubbed in good. And even some light coating of Vicks at sleep time.
 
That’s how I unlock it but it really hurts. You are lucky that it doesn’t.
I haven’t been treating it with anything so maybe I will.
Thanks Jamin’
 
Keesha, I take a number of supplements for the bodywide OA I live with, so this could be helping to keep what is left at this point in my life somewhat limber. Oils like Omega 3's and lately I've switched to Krill oil...so oils do help with joint movements. Everything as it ages, needs oiled.
 
Hey Jamin’
Yes I understand you take a number of supplements to increase your level of health. I do as well.
Krill oil I’ve been taking for years. They sell it at Costco for a great price.
The reason my thumb probably hurts more than your fingers is probably more due to the fact that it’s injury is more serious.
Its from playing my new soprano saxophone and using my thumb to support it as I play. Since the soprano is a straight instrument and doesn’t have the curve, makes it more difficult to channel the flow of air properly. The alto has a curve in it so the holding position is completely different. I think what I’ve got now is a bump or ridge right at the joint and once the joint gets knocked out of place, it gets caught up in this ridge and won’t bend until I manually adjust it which is incredibly painful.
I need to get it looked at professionally but thanks all the same
 
I went to a Neurologist and he gave my thumb two injections, one each week for two weeks All better now.
 
Keesha said:
Its from playing my new soprano saxophone and using my thumb to support it as I play. Since the soprano is a straight instrument and doesn’t have the curve, makes it more difficult to channel the flow of air properly. The alto has a curve in it so the holding position is completely different.
Click to expand...
This is possibly a silly question, Keesha, but have you tried using a neck strap with your alto sax?
 
Tommy said:

This is possibly a silly question, Keesha, but have you tried using a neck strap with your alto sax?
Click to expand...
Not a silly question at all. I do have a neck strap for both my alto and my soprano saxophones. The problem with playing the soprano is that unless I hold the saxophone out I don’t get the right embouchure to produce a nice tone with my head held down so l have been holding the saxophone out and up with my thumb. Since I enjoy playing so much I wasn’t noticing how much stress and damage it was doing until it was too late so to fix this problem I’m placing the saxophone so it doesn’t add any pressure and I will purchase this today.

Here is the difference between the alto position and the soprano. In order to get the correct positioning I will need to purchase this.
AD2887C5-0D3F-4D9F-BCF7-37E2C6AC8244.jpeg


https://www.sax.co.uk/ergosax-soprano-saxophone-support.ir

It looks really lame but I don’t care how I look. I just want to play without hurting myself.

84325F78-A162-4681-9FA7-EBDCAB63AF47.jpeg

If if I had known this earlier I would have purchased the curved soprano to avoid this problem.
 
Hmm,,,,,,, Did any of you read my post, in this thread, that offers a link to exercises that, for the most part, alleviated my trigger finger? In reading your subsequent posts, it doesn't seem like it. Curious, indeed.
 
Keesha said:
Not a silly question at all. I do have a neck strap for both my alto and my soprano saxophones. The problem with playing the soprano is that unless I hold the saxophone out I don’t get the right embouchure to produce a nice tone with my head held down so l have been holding the saxophone out and up with my thumb. Since I enjoy playing so much I wasn’t noticing how much stress and damage it was doing until it was too late so to fix this problem I’m placing the saxophone so it doesn’t add any pressure and I will purchase this today.

Here is the difference between the alto position and the soprano. In order to get the correct positioning

It looks really lame but I don’t care how I look. I just want to play without hurting myself

If if I had known this earlier I would have purchased the curved soprano to avoid this problem.
Click to expand...

I'm sure you know this, but for those who don't. : Curved sopranos are cute, but notorious for going out of tune, unless you really get into constant practice and tweaking. Every sax player I ever had in my band played a straight soprano, and dissed curved ones. Straight sopranos do cause more problems with tendonitis and related maladies, because of their weight and the way they must be held.
 
treeguy64 said:
Since I posted the original entry, here, I've done research and found a way to lessen the whole trigger finger effect.

First off, it seems that many of the medical "expert" sites, online, are simply business as usual, for the medical establishment: They want to push treatments for the symptom without getting at the cause. Shots, surgery, splints, etc., are all covered. Of course, if you choose to go that route, the doctors are quite happy to oblige you, since they rake in the money for the various treatments.

Luckily, I found a site that gets into the cause of this malady, and how to treat the same. The generally accepted cause of trigger finger made no sense to me. I read about nodules on the tendon and how they prevented the tendon from smoothly sliding in its sheath.

Well, I found that implausible, since my symptoms went away, completely, as soon as I began working and using my hands. Trigger finger only came back at night, when I was inactive. With nodules, the cessation of symptoms didn't add up: If they were there, they were there!

The site I found told me that the symptom was caused by muscles shortening, over time, due to heavy, stressful use and improper movement.

Several exercises were given. I did those exercises and found almost immediate relief!

I have posted the link, below, and wish everyone good luck, with it:

https://bottomlineinc.com/blogs/pain-relief-in-motion/best-trigger-finger-cure
Click to expand...
I Just tried it. I think my trigger finger is better now. Thanks TG.PS my cbd balm didn't see to work.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top