Ask Dr. Gott » trigger finger http://askdrgottmd.com Ask Dr Gott MD's Website Sun, 12 Dec 2010 05:01:29 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Gott enters the 21st century http://askdrgottmd.com/gott-enters-21st-century/ http://askdrgottmd.com/gott-enters-21st-century/#comments Fri, 12 Feb 2010 05:01:10 +0000 Dr. Gott http://askdrgottmd.com/wp/?p=2891 DEAR DR. GOTT: Do you have an archive online or otherwise of past columns? In the past month or two, I think you had a column entry that discussed the condition known as trigger finger. In the past two weeks, my husband has had a flare-up of this condition. He is 47, and his 78-year-old mother also suffers with trigger finger.
Any advice or experience from you or my fellow readers/writers would be welcomed. Thank you.
DEAR READER: First, let me discuss your husband’s condition, and I’ll expand on your inquiry from there.
As you are aware, trigger finger is a condition in which a finger joint catches in a bent position. The joint appears as though the person has pulled the trigger of a gun. When the finger unlocks, it pops back suddenly, as if releasing that trigger, thus the name. Accompanying pain can often be controlled by icing and splinting or over-the-counter Advil, Aleve, Motrin and similar products. When OTCs fail to provide satisfactory results, it’s time to consult a physician to determine the next step, which might be a cortisone injection or surgical release under local anesthesia. The procedure is relatively common, and your primary-care physician should be able to direct you to a local surgeon who can provide relief to your husband.
In terms of his mother, she should weigh the degree of impact on her life. If she is truly troubled by the condition, her physician can review any other possible medical conditions that might have an impact on potential surgery and point her in the right direction for relief.
Now, for the second part of your inquiry. I have been holding on to your letter for a number of months, awaiting my entry into the 21st century. I must confess yet again that I’ve been rather proud all these years to be a member of the Lead Pencil Club and a technophobe, as well. I began my column with a pad of paper in front of me, answering every question that has appeared in my column. And, believe it or not, I still do just that. Medicine is my field of expertise, not machinery. My office staff, which does some research on my behalf, has backed me against a wall and demanded my entry into the computer age. After what has seemed like an excessively long period of preparation, I am pleased to announce that my column is now available at www.AskDrGottMD.com. I am aware of my name and material appearing on several other sites; however, this is the only “official” site.
Taking on the format of a newspaper column, it will contain new material and columns from the past. You can search for information on specific diseases and illnesses through dates of publication and can follow what my guest columnists have to say on a variety of medical topics. My initial plan is to run guest columns weekly, beginning on Sundays. Health Reports can be reviewed by title with readers being directed to download and print out an order blank for forwarding to the fulfillment center’s address in Ohio. Then there is a contact page for readers to write to me through the Web site with their questions and concerns. I welcome input, both positive and negative.
To test your question on trigger finger, I called up the site, typed in the words “trigger finger” and was immediately directed to my March 31, 2009, column titled “Recurring Trigger Finger Difficult to Treat.” You can do the same and review my comments from that column.

]]> http://askdrgottmd.com/gott-enters-21st-century/feed/ 0 Recurring Trigger Finger Difficult To Treat http://askdrgottmd.com/recurring-trigger-finger-difficult-to-treat/ http://askdrgottmd.com/recurring-trigger-finger-difficult-to-treat/#comments Tue, 31 Mar 2009 05:00:01 +0000 Dr. Gott http://askdrgottmd.dreamhosters.com/wp/?p=1128 DEAR DR. GOTT:
I get trigger finger. This is the third one I have gotten in the last two years. A cortisone shot does nothing and surgery is the only thing that has helped me. The episodes are very painful and I want to know if there is anything to prevent them from happening again.

DEAR READER:
Sadly, you are probably a pro when it comes to recognizing the symptoms of a trigger finger. However, I will bring my reading audience up to speed before I answer your question.

Trigger finger is a condition in which any finger joint catches in a bent position (partial dislocation). An individual might be able to straighten the finger with a gun’s trigger-like motion and snap it back into proper position; thus the name. More severe cases might lock the bent finger and an individual will be unable to straighten it. More than one finger can be affected at the same time and both hands can become involved.

Common causes are repetitive motion of the fingers of the dominant hand that occur at work, during sports, or with some hobbies.

While I cannot state you won’t have additional symptoms, there are several steps you can take toward that hopeful goal. Soak your hand or hands in warm water. Stretch the fingers of one hand and massage the palm and each digit with your opposite hand. Repeat the same process with the opposite hand. While you sit in front of the television in the evening, apply gentle massage to each hand for several minutes.

Avoid repetitive gripping whenever possible. If necessary, break up the routine with different hand exercises between the repetitions and take periodic rest periods.

Use over-the-counter drugs such as Advil, Aleve, or Motrin for minor pain symptoms.

If more severe problems occur, seek the services of your physician. You are no stranger to steroids such as cortisone injections, but apparently they don’t provide relief, so let’s bypass that option.

Trigger finger release can be performed under local anesthesia. I don’t know if you have had this performed, but you might choose to speak with your physician about the possibility.

A final resort is surgery under anesthesia for tendon release, a procedure you have apparently already undergone.

I urge you to get into a stretching exercise routine as a preventive measure. Start gently and work slowly.

To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Managing Chronic Pain”. Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.

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