Trigger finger and Nodules.

fourferrets
fourferrets Member Posts: 44
edited 9. Mar 2010, 15:29 in Living with Arthritis archive
First post, but have 'lurked' for a little while.

One of the fingers on my right hand hasn't been straight for a year or 2 now (middle finger) the index finger is now 'triggering'. Is this something for the rheumatologist or regular doctor?

Also.....
I had a nodule grow on my elbow, got so big it was 'affectionately' known as my 2nd elbow. Since the beginning of this year it has started to reduce!! I thought nodules were there to stay so I am pleased to see it going :)

So is my nodule converting to a trigger finger lol always seems to be that as something goes down, something else comes up :D

Comments

  • Wonkylegs
    Wonkylegs Member Posts: 3,504
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    First post, but have 'lurked' for a little while.

    One of the fingers on my right hand hasn't been straight for a year or 2 now (middle finger) the index finger is now 'triggering'. Is this something for the rheumatologist or regular doctor?

    Also.....
    I had a nodule grow on my elbow, got so big it was 'affectionately' known as my 2nd elbow. Since the beginning of this year it has started to reduce!! I thought nodules were there to stay so I am pleased to see it going :)

    So is my nodule converting to a trigger finger lol always seems to be that as something goes down, something else comes up :D

    HI Fourferrets (great name!!) & welcome!

    I found out when I was seeing my OT the other week that my thumb is a trigger thumb ......... had mentioned it previously to my rheumy nurse and consultant but they were not that interested I'm sad to say. The OT did at least give it a name, but I don't think there is much they can do ... although she did keep my thumb splint longer to give that particular joint some support.

    I'd say that if it is troubling you then your GP would be your best bet for a quick answer/help, otherwise I'd mention it when you next see your rheumatology team.

    can't help with nodules as haven't had one (i don't think) yet :wink:

    hugs
    wonky
  • elnafinn
    elnafinn Member Posts: 7,412
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi there! :)

    Welcome to the forum. Not sure about the nodule on your elbow but good news that it is reducing in size :lol: .

    I do know about trigger thumbs (same as trigger finger). I eventually had them sorted out by a hand consultant on separate occasions. The op takes about 15 - 20 minutes under a local anaesthetic so you get to chat to the staff but the area is numbed. It is a very successful operation and does not take long to get over and forget all about it. Best go to your gp and get a referral.

    Look after yourself,

    Elna x
    The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.

    If you can lay down at night knowing in your heart that you made someone's day just a little bit better, you know you had a good day.
  • Wonkylegs
    Wonkylegs Member Posts: 3,504
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    elnafinn wrote:
    Hi there! :)

    Welcome to the forum. Not sure about the nodule on your elbow but good news that it is reducing in size :lol: .

    I do know about trigger thumbs (same as trigger finger). I eventually had them sorted out by a hand consultant on separate occasions. The op takes about 15 - 20 minutes under a local anaesthetic so you get to chat to the staff but the area is numbed. It is a very successful operation and does not take long to get over and forget all about it. Best go to your gp and get a referral.

    Look after yourself,

    Elna x

    you've got me interested Elna - no-one mentioned that they could do anything .... .what do they do in the op & how does it help? always pays to know what to ask for in advance :wink:
    thanks for letting us know - I thought that was it and I had to live with it!

    hugs wonky
  • katat1
    katat1 Bots Posts: 43
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    First post, but have 'lurked' for a little while.

    One of the fingers on my right hand hasn't been straight for a year or 2 now (middle finger) the index finger is now 'triggering'. Is this something for the rheumatologist or regular doctor?

    Also.....
    I had a nodule grow on my elbow, got so big it was 'affectionately' known as my 2nd elbow. Since the beginning of this year it has started to reduce!! I thought nodules were there to stay so I am pleased to see it going :)

    So is my nodule converting to a trigger finger lol always seems to be that as something goes down, something else comes up :D

    Hi fourferrets,

    I don't know about the trigger finger problem but I also had nodules including a real goodie on my right elbow and that gradually reduced then disappeared altogether. So did the others on my wrist and hand but they were smaller so went first. I used the elbow one as my 'barometer' and would look at it every so often to note its reduction and saw it as a mark of my progress towards remission! :D

    Hope your disappears altogether too!

    Best,

    Kat
  • elnafinn
    elnafinn Member Posts: 7,412
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    you've got me interested Elna - no-one mentioned that they could do anything .... .what do they do in the op & how does it help? always pays to know what to ask for in advance :wink:
    thanks for letting us know - I thought that was it and I had to live with it!

    hugs wonky[/quote]

    Hi Wonky

    I did look up the wording on the net so as to get it correct :oops:

    "The usual solution for treating a trigger digit is surgery to open the pulley that is obstructing the nodule and keeping the tendon from sliding smoothly. This surgery can usually be done as an outpatient procedure, meaning you can leave the hospital the same day."

    It did mention that the effect of nonsurgical treatment is usually short-lived. You may get some relief of symptoms with a cortisone injection. If you wear a splint to get the area calmed down, the nodule may shrink temporarily, but patients often end up needing surgery for this problem.

    I did have injections in my thumbs first but it did not work for long.

    Hugs to you too,
    Elna x
    The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything.

    If you can lay down at night knowing in your heart that you made someone's day just a little bit better, you know you had a good day.
  • Wonkylegs
    Wonkylegs Member Posts: 3,504
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thanks Elna - that makes a lot of sense as the thumb is out of line and putting pressure on the tendons & stretching them into places they shouldn't go so it is obviously all connected.

    I learn something every day on here - and often from you!

    thanks a lot :D

    sleep well
    WOnky
  • portiasmummy
    portiasmummy Member Posts: 13
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    First post, but have 'lurked' for a little while.

    One of the fingers on my right hand hasn't been straight for a year or 2 now (middle finger) the index finger is now 'triggering'. Is this something for the rheumatologist or regular doctor?

    Also.....
    I had a nodule grow on my elbow, got so big it was 'affectionately' known as my 2nd elbow. Since the beginning of this year it has started to reduce!! I thought nodules were there to stay so I am pleased to see it going :)

    So is my nodule converting to a trigger finger lol always seems to be that as something goes down, something else comes up :D
    Hi, There are two conditions which present themselves in similar ways - one is Trigger Finger/Thumb, and the other is Dupuytren's Contracture. Possibly you should contact your GP (who will refer you to the appropriate specialist. First treatment in both is usually Steroid injections (I had this for Duprettes - but they didn't do it into the palm of the hand - as I had expected - but in the area between each finger - I have to be truthful and say that although it didn't hurt much having it done (about the same as having steroid injections for arthritis in the fingers) - it was very painful for a day after as my hand contracted and I couldn't use it - but the injections were very successful and removed a lot of the pain. So, I would say first port of call - GP! Good luck.
    Kindest wishes, PMx
  • fourferrets
    fourferrets Member Posts: 44
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thanks for the replies :)

    Have an appt booked tomorrow with GP. I had read elsewhere that as a condition on it's own trigger finger tends to improve, but when it's with another condition e.g RA it tends to need help.

    As for the user-name.... guess how many little monsters I have :)
    They are my reason for getting up in the mornings lol (otherwise they would just bite my toes) :)
  • jenzie06
    jenzie06 Member Posts: 708
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hey fourferrets
    I had a nodule on my tendon, which caused trigger finger, injected with steroids a few years ago. It was pretty painful (I think because there is not a lot of room in a finger for the steroid!) but it did the trick. I do have nodules (or knots as I call them) on the tendons but they don't catch very often.
    Hope you get it sorted soon.
  • fourferrets
    fourferrets Member Posts: 44
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Just a minor, frustrating, update lol

    Went to the doctor, he said go see the rheumy dept, do you need a referal?, No says I, as far as I know its an open system, make appt when needed type of thing.

    So, phoned rheumatology to be told that as I hadn't seen them for 6 months (April 2008 was my last appt) I would need referral again!

    Apparantly as well I had missed 1 appt and had another cancelled, would have been nice if they had told me though! as I knew nothing of them.

    So need to go back to docs and get a referal, daft thing is they could pull all my details up @ the rheumatolgy dept.
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 29,336
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Fourferrets

    I can only say.....



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    Toni xx
  • fourferrets
    fourferrets Member Posts: 44
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Yet another update.

    Saw the doc for a referal.
    He said if it's trigger finger he could sort it out there and then. So he had a squish and I flexed and clicked (finger) and he informed me it isn't trigger finger as it's sticking in the joint not the tendon.

    Got my referal there too for April 26th (not too long a wait).

    Aparently as well I could possibly get one of my fingers re-straightened (it has a permanent (or so I thought) bend in it, boutonniere).