Trigger Finger - Page 2

sayheyjeff · #16 09-19-2014, 02:31 PM

I had the operation on my thumb. Had two cortisone shots prior. The first shot worked for 6 months. The 2nd shot worked for a couple of weeks. For me, the operation was quick and easy. The local was the most difficult part and it was no problem. While I know all trigger finger operations are not as simple as mine, I was back to playing guitar pain free in about 4 days. If you are in the mid Atlantic, send me a note and I will recommend a surgeon. He has also performed more difficult operations on 6 of my wife's fingers. We couldn't be happier. Good luck with it.

Jeff

DDSM2004 · #17 12-03-2014, 07:37 PM

I'm pleased to anounce that the surgery was performed a week ago and even with a big cotton dressing and wrap on my hand, I can still play - finger is working fine. No pain or stiffness.
Shortly after I came to, the surgeon said to make fist. It was a little sore and stiff at first, then he said to do that 20x an hour for at least the first 24 hours. Well, it was a little tough for a day, but got better and better. I have another week to go before the stitches come out and I will hopefully get rid of the dressing, but it sure looks like a winner.
I was so excited, I went out on Black Friday and bought a nos 2012 714ce I'd been watching at the local dealer for a couple years now. Can't believe no one bought it. Got a super deal.

Thanks to all for the input and support. It was pretty scary but I'm glad I finally had this done.

patchmcg · #18 12-03-2014, 08:26 PM

Glad it worked out OK!

Strangely enough, mine last September did not. The triggering was corrected, but I have not regained full motion yet in my finger, it stays slightly swollen, and it feels like a marble has taken up residence just below the surface of my skin up in front of the incision site. If I use the hand a lot, it is killing me by the end of the day.

The surgeon noted that a bunch of clear fluid gushed from the incision in spite of the tourniquet on my arm at the time. Tests have shown that it was not any kind of infection.

Soooo,,,,I have an appointment with a hand specialist later this month. I hate middle age....

DDSM2004 · #19 12-03-2014, 08:45 PM

Sorry to hear that. Hope all comes out OK.

stephenT · #20 12-03-2014, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDSM2004

I'm pleased to anounce that the surgery was performed a week ago and even with a big cotton dressing and wrap on my hand, I can still play - finger is working fine. No pain or stiffness.
Shortly after I came to, the surgeon said to make fist. It was a little sore and stiff at first, then he said to do that 20x an hour for at least the first 24 hours. Well, it was a little tough for a day, but got better and better. I have another week to go before the stitches come out and I will hopefully get rid of the dressing, but it sure looks like a winner.
I was so excited, I went out on Black Friday and bought a nos 2012 714ce I'd been watching at the local dealer for a couple years now. Can't believe no one bought it. Got a super deal.

Thanks to all for the input and support. It was pretty scary but I'm glad I finally had this done.

Congratulations! Glad it went well and that's an excellent reward!

sstaylor58 · #21 12-03-2014, 09:30 PM

Just had this done to right thumb in August. Did it without anesthesia, saved quite a bit of $'s and there really wasn't any pain, they used a local to numb it. Took about 2 months to be back to normal, but the injections didn't work. I wouldn't be afraid of it if I ever had to do it again. Best of luck.

DDSM2004 · #22 12-05-2014, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sstaylor58

Just had this done to right thumb in August. Did it without anesthesia, saved quite a bit of $'s and there really wasn't any pain, they used a local to numb it. Took about 2 months to be back to normal, but the injections didn't work. I wouldn't be afraid of it if I ever had to do it again. Best of luck.

I thought they would do mine like that but they put me into "twilight" and a local. I took one pain pill afterward but only as a precaution. It was a plastic surgeon who specializes in hands so I'm not complaining. I just wish I could change this dressing. Heading back on Tuesday for followup.

mhs · #23 12-05-2014, 12:57 PM

Congratulations DD!

Glad it worked out OK. I've had 3 for 4 fingers. Did your doctor get you a scripp for PT to get rid of scar tissue? Just curious. That turned out to be as important for me as the surgeries.

Good luck.

Goldy · #24 12-07-2014, 09:31 PM

I'm a surgeon and had a trigger finger release 4 weeks ago. I had waited a long time to have surgery and my joints are stiff, but the painful triggering is gone. What a relief.

Silver Fiddle · #25 12-08-2014, 09:58 AM

I too suffer from trigger finger. I posted a thread on this forum some time ago and was given some good input on the topic. Mine seems to have subsided for now and I'm wondering if it's more of a seasonal issue with me. I ride motorcycle from spring to fall and think it might be aggravating my trigger finger. I'm trying to avoid surgery.

DDSM2004 · #26 12-30-2014, 04:58 PM

Thought I'd throw out a year-end update. Just got back from my final follow up with the surgeon and PT. It turns out playing the guitar was good therapy. It's been 36 days. I have just slight stiffness and swelling but can play anything I could before the surgery and maybe a little better. The scar is barely visible and there is some scar tissue under the skin but the PT said to do some massages with cocoa butter or lanolin to work this out. Couldn't be happier with the results.

Thanks for all the input/feedback. This was a little scary but it worked out just fine. Now if I can just master getting the thumb around the low E so I can finish "Winter Walking"!

Lodos · #27 05-05-2020, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDSM2004

In the past three years I have gotten into some fairly elaborate fingerpicking (Doyle Dykes, Tommy Emmanuel) that requires a lot of fast and accurate left hand fingering. In the past year or so I have developed a trigger finger on my left index finger - a nodule on the tendon is binding going through the sheath. I can hardly bend my index finger in the morning and it takes about 20 minutes of easy playing before it loosens to where I can play cleanly but it quickly returns after I stop.

I've already had cortizone injections that were only a temporary fix and am considering surgery to open the sheath where the tendon is binding.
Everything I've read and watched (youtube) indicates the procedure is minor with extremely high success but I obviously have reservations. Has anyone had this surgery or know someone who has? I'm wondering what effect, if any, it has had on their playing.

Thanks in advance for any input.

same finger and the exact same problem here. i wonder if you also have small hands like me?? my life has been consisting of tommy emmanuel for a long time now, and this only started 2 years ago.

right now i'm taking nsaids and using a finger splint, they aren't much help but i really don't want a surgery, doesn't look like it'll go away on its own though..

erhino41 · #28 05-05-2020, 01:30 PM

I had release surgery on my right (picking) hand middle finger five years ago. It was triggering bad and two rounds of cortisone did nothing to it.

Five years on and the finger is great. There are no after effects in use, no loss in range of motion, no stiffness, no loss in dexterity or speed and most importantly zero pain.

I would not hesitate to recommend the surgery to anyone.

menhir · #29 05-05-2020, 03:03 PM

I've had mild trigger finger(s) off and on, mostly off, for several years. It didn't last long and was mostly a minor annoyance. Until...

A couple of weeks ago when it got serious.

My left/fretting hand ring finger. Painful and downright debilitating.

Since it's come and gone before, I'm giving it a little time before I take any real action. My doctor recommended getting the cortisone shot first...give that a try...and then surgery if further steps are needed.

As of now, Aleve and Tiger Balm Ultra* applied to the pad at the base of the finger has allowed my to play again, but the problem is still acute. I think that cutting down on my playing time helped too, but that's hardly a good solution. When I retired, I had planned to play guitar more than ever...not less.

I had heard that surgery would take about 6 months to heal before I could start playing again. I'm happy to hear, here, that the recovery period is significantly less.

I'll be watching this thread.

*After 25 years of martial arts, I always keep this stuff in the medicine cabinet.

BradHall · #30 05-05-2020, 04:23 PM

I had the carpal tunnel and 4 tendon release surgery done simultaneously on my left hand. Not trying to discourage you in any way, but mine was very painful for many months afterward. I did physical therapy with a hand specialist for 3 months and continue exercises at home now. It’s been 7 months. I can play guitar again, but even a simple f’in’ F chord is mostly unreachable so far. Daily exercises, a small localized vibrator on the rather large scar tissue lumps, and a large lump of putty have all helped. I wake up with my hand stiff and sore. It takes a while to get it functioning in a tolerable fashion. Still better than the triggers and constant pain. I hope yours goes as smoothly as some of the earlier posters did.