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Trigger finger treatment Splints, hand therapy and ultrasound-guided injections for a finger that catches or locks
Trigger finger treatment aims to calm the swollen tendon and its sheath so the finger can glide again. Mild cases often improve with rest from hard gripping, a night splint and hand therapy exercises. When the finger keeps catching or locking, a physician may suggest a steroid injection into the tendon sheath, often guided by ultrasound; many people improve after one, and some need a second. If the finger still locks after that, a hand surgeon can release the tight pulley in a short procedure.
A finger that clicks, catches or locks when you bend it, with a tender bump at the base of the finger in the palm, can be trigger finger (stenosing tenosynovitis). The tendon that bends the finger runs through a tunnel of small pulleys; when the tendon or its sheath thickens, it catches on the first pulley. Other possible causes of a stiff or locking finger include arthritis of the finger joints, Dupuytren’s contracture, a tendon or ligament injury and a small cyst, so a physician examines the hand and may use diagnostic ultrasound to look at the tendon. See our elbow, wrist and hand pain page for related problems.
Signs and risk factors
- Clicking, catching or locking when you bend or straighten a finger or thumb
- Stiffness that is worse in the morning
- A tender lump at the base of the finger in the palm
- A finger that has to be straightened with the other hand
It is more common in people with diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis, people aged about 40 to 60, and people whose work or hobbies involve repeated, forceful gripping. Numbness and tingling in the fingers can point to a nerve problem, such as carpal tunnel syndrome; see numbness and tingling in hands and carpal tunnel relief.
Trigger finger treatment without surgery
- Activity changes: fewer hard, repeated grips; padded handles and tools
- Splinting: a small splint that keeps the finger straight at night, usually for several weeks
- Hand therapy: tendon-gliding exercises, gentle stretching, swelling control and a splint fitted to your hand; occupational and hand therapy is offered at our Brooklyn office (see what is occupational therapy?)
- Steroid injection: a small dose of anti-inflammatory medicine into the tendon sheath; ultrasound lets the physician see the tendon and place the needle precisely
An injection may raise blood sugar for a few days in people with diabetes, and it can be less effective in diabetes, so your physician talks this through. Pain procedures are performed at all three offices, and your physician explains where and when yours will be scheduled.
When surgery is considered
If the finger keeps locking after splinting, therapy and one or two injections, or it is stuck in a bent position, a hand surgeon can release the tight pulley so the tendon glides freely. Our physicians refer you when that point is reached, and hand therapy afterward helps restore full movement. For long-standing wrist and hand pain from other causes, see chronic wrist pain treatment.
More videos: how trigger finger is treated
More clips from our YouTube channel @precisioncaremedical explaining trigger finger and showing ultrasound-guided treatment.
Related care at Precision Care Medical & Sports Performance
Trigger finger treatment near you
Looking for a hand pain doctor near me for a finger that catches or locks? Precision Care Medical & Sports Performance examines hands at all three offices, where our pain physicians, Ashley Marcus, MD in Brooklyn, Jake Stephen, DO on Staten Island and Yuri Gordin, MD in Manhattan examine the hand, use ultrasound when it helps, and plan treatment. Our Brooklyn office on Shell Rd, close to Manhattan Beach, Midwood and Coney Island, also offers hand therapy with Valerie Khodorkovskiy, OTR/L.
Our Staten Island pain management office on Richmond Rd serves Great Kills and Dongan Hills. In Manhattan, the Precision Care Spine & Pain Center in Midtown Manhattan is close to the Upper East Side and reachable from Spanish Harlem. Request an appointment or call the office closest to you.
150 E 55th St, Suite 401, New York, NY 10022
(212) 840-0135
Questions patients ask
Can trigger finger go away on its own?
Mild trigger finger sometimes settles with rest from hard gripping and a night splint. If it keeps catching or locks, it is worth having it examined.
Does a trigger finger injection hurt?
The needle is small and the skin can be numbed first. Most people feel brief pressure, and the base of the finger may be sore for a day or two.
How fast does a trigger finger injection work?
Many people notice less catching within one to three weeks. Some need a second injection, and some still need surgery later.
Can hand therapy help trigger finger?
Yes. A hand therapist fits a splint, teaches tendon-gliding exercises and helps you change the grips that keep irritating the tendon.
When does trigger finger need surgery?
Surgery is considered when the finger keeps locking after splinting, therapy and injections, or is stuck bent. A hand surgeon releases the tight pulley.
Where can I get trigger finger treatment near me?
Precision Care Medical & Sports Performance examines and treats trigger finger at all three offices:
- Brooklyn2781 Shell Rd, Suite 101, Brooklyn, NY 11223(718) 648-1234 · Get directions
- Staten Island1630 Richmond Rd, Suite 101, Staten Island, NY 10304(718) 339-7100 · Get directions
- Midtown Manhattan150 E 55th St, Suite 401, New York, NY 10022(212) 840-0135 · Get directions
Hand therapy (occupational therapy) is offered at the Brooklyn office only.
Educational only, not medical advice. These videos and this article explain common problems and treatments in general terms. They are not a diagnosis or a treatment plan for you. Results vary from person to person. See a qualified clinician about your own symptoms, and call 911 or go to an emergency room for an emergency.
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