TRIGGER FINGERS !!

[Silly Moustache]

On the 22nd Feb last year I had to have an op on my right hand because of a trigger finger.

my left hand has been getting worse since December and I've now reached the point where I am nable to play.
I'm seeing my GP on tuesday who will hopefully squirt some Cortisone into it but I'll have to have that op anyway, just hope I can have it sooner rather than later and I have solo gigs coming up in May and June.

Anybody else wsuffer similarly ? Any hints and tips ?

[eshrager]

Had it in my left thumb a couple of years ago. Got a shot which lasted exactly one year. Next I Opted for the surgery, which isn't that big of a deal and was done under local. As I was sitting in the OR, a nurse let me know that this thing often reoccurs on another finger. Two years later I got it in my right middle finger. Got the shot a couple of weeks ago and it is fine for now. We will see for how long.

[stephenT]

I had the surgery on my left hand a couple years ago, was fairly quick and simple, in the Drs office.

They encourage you to move your hand/fingers asap. I'm a lead player, it did impact my fingering a bit for the first six months, but I didn't have any issues playing.

Best o' luck for a speedy!

[golfreggie]

There have been advertisements on TV with John Elway of the Denver Broncos fame, and I believe it is for this drug injection, XIAFLEX®. Is that an option for you?

[G-Money]

I have a terribly aching index finger on my left hand, feels like it was hit on the knuckle by a hammer but it came on the night after a particularly intense long practice session on a new blues fingerstyle sequence. I had added an extended session on my back on the couch with the gs mini and the ergonomics probably helped the hurt.

I keep trying to sneak in a little practice with minimal index finger involvement on the fretting hand but I feel like I'm making it worse / preventing healing. Could it be arthritus oncoming? hot seems to help more than cold. Taping it to my middle seems to help from aggravating it as when sleeping etc.

The knuckle isn't really balky which is what I associate with trigger finger, it just hurts too much to move into necessary fretting positions and pressures.

I'm truly afraid my guitar "career" is threatened and going crazy not being able to play. Would love to hear suggestions to help heal and get past this, how to manage the pain and whether full cessation of playing is called for. So far in this threat I'm hearing folks say shots and surgerys are the call, but I' not sure my injury is the same or not. Thanks

[gibpicker]

Had it done on the middle finger of my left hand by the VA, and they botched it. The VA is a learning situation, and I heard the very old teaching Dr. say something about a mistake during the op. I believe they got rid of him, but it's too late as it effects my fretting hand negatively, and it's a fairly simple procedure.

[nightflight]

I have trigger finger in both hands. My ring finger on my left hand, same on my right. Years ago, I had a cortisone shot in my left hand... worked for a year. You don't want too many cortisone shots, as it can damage the cartilage. Some doctors will give up to 3 shots. I was told if it's going to work (permanently), you'll know after 1 shot (after about a year).

I have not yet had surgery, but I'm definitely staring it in the face.

It's worse on my left hand - the finger sometimes locks and is painful. I can grab it and "unlock" it, and then it's OK. My right hand is not as bad, the finger just clicks a little.

It is caused by a swelling on the tendon that catches as it travels through a sheath (like carpal tunnel). The surgery cuts the sheath partially, widening the opening, eliminating the resistance, and over time the inflammation should go away. The surgery is generally done under a local in the doctor's office. Check your insurance... out of pocket it runs approx $20K (this is the price I was given). I would also recommend you go to an orthopedic surgeon who is a board certified (this indicates a higher level of training).

[Bunny64]

Originally Posted by Silly Moustache

On the 22nd Feb last year I had to have an op on my right hand because of a trigger finger.

my left hand has been getting worse since December and I've now reached the point where I am nable to play.
I'm seeing my GP on tuesday who will hopefully squirt some Cortisone into it but I'll have to have that op anyway, just hope I can have it sooner rather than later and I have solo gigs coming up in May and June.

Anybody else wsuffer similarly ? Any hints and tips ?

Sorry to hear you are still struggling with that problem. Regrettably I can offer you no answer to your condition. However I would like to wish you well and hope your outcomes are successful. Love watching you play.

[roylor4]

I did some deep release work on a client with trigger finger. 20 minute session and it went away.........

Seek out a deep tissue or Myofascial Release massage therapist.

[gfirob]

I got the shot six or seven years ago and the problem has pretty much resolved itself, but the shot hurt. It took a long time to get over.

[pszy22]

I had trigger finger about twenty years ago, got one shot and it seemed to clear it up for good. About six months ago, I woke up one morning with a it in another finger. Really didn't do anything about it, it cleared up itself in about three weeks. Fingers crossed it won't come back.

[jguns]

Over the past 10 years, I have have had every finger as well as my left thumb surgically repaired for trigger finger locking. The injections never provided more than a few months of relief except for my right thumb injection, which lasted for a year. It is now acting up too and I am going to have to schedule surgery to get this last thumb fixed. I have been told it can be genetic as both my mother and father had locking fingers (just not to this extent). Hopefully this will be the last one! I told my hand surgeon specialist if my toes start locking I am going to scream! The good news is the surgery is painless and the recovery is quick!

[personatech]

I had a mild case a few months ago. Doctor suggested I wear a splint while sleeping and add more turmeric into my diet. It worked after a couple of months - one day I realized that my finger hadn't locked up in a week and it's been fine ever since.

Good luck!

[stephenT]

Trigger finger is kinda a misnomer, it's the finger that's effected but the issue is swelling of the knuckle. For those of us who play for a living it's difficult to stop playing long enough for the swelling to go away.

That's why when I went for surgery rather than a shot.

I went back to playing in a couple weeks and a few months later I had scar tissue build up around the surgery area. When to PT and worked it out,.. I found it's necessary to do the hand physical therapy post op for good results.

And yes, go to a hand surgeon who's done it hundreds of times.

[Silly Moustache]

Originally Posted by golfreggie

There have been advertisements on TV with John Elway of the Denver Broncos fame, and I believe it is for this drug injection, XIAFLEX®. Is that an option for you?

No, the NHS doesn't work that way, and prescription meds are neither advertised nor sold here.

Thanks anyway.