❓What Is Trigger Finger?

Trigger finger happens where the flexor tendon that bends your finger passes under the A1 pulley, a ring-shaped band of tissue in the palm at the base of the finger. Friction between the two makes the tendon thicken, so it no longer glides smoothly through the tunnel.
When you bend and straighten the finger, the thickened tendon is forced through the narrow entrance and the finger snaps with a sudden click — this is why it is called "trigger finger."
Symptoms are usually worst in the morning and ease a little as you move the hand during the day. The thumb, middle finger, and ring finger are affected most often, and more than one finger can be involved at the same time.

⚙️Why Does It Happen?

Heavy hand use plus a susceptible background

Work, housework, or sport that uses the fingers, combined with hormonal changes or conditions such as diabetes, makes it more likely

Friction builds between tendon and A1 pulley

The tendon rubs at the base of the finger and gradually stops gliding smoothly

The tendon thickens and the pulley stiffens

A nodule forms on the tendon surface while the tunnel it must pass through gets narrower

The finger catches, then snaps (triggering)

The thickened tendon forces its way through the tight entrance, so the finger releases suddenly and painfully

Later the finger can lock in place

It may stay bent and refuse to straighten, or stay straight and refuse to bend, making daily tasks difficult

🌸 Menopause 🤰 Pregnancy / postpartum 🍬 Diabetes 🦴 Rheumatoid arthritis 💧 Dialysis 🔧 Heavy hand use at work or home

🔍Watch for These Symptoms

😣

Pain and tenderness at the base of the finger

🔔

A click or snap when bending and straightening

🌅

Stiff fingers first thing in the morning

🫘

A small firm lump you can feel in the palm

🖐️

Most often the thumb, middle, or ring finger

🔒

The finger locks — stuck bent and won't straighten, or stuck straight and won't bend

💊Treatment (Conservative First)

🩹

Rest & Splinting

Cut back on gripping tasks and use a splint to rest the base of the finger. Night-only splinting is an option

💊

Oral NSAIDs

Anti-inflammatory medication eases pain and swelling. NSAIDs must not be used if you have a peptic ulcer or have ever had an asthma attack triggered by a painkiller (aspirin-induced asthma)

🧴

Topical Gel / Patch

Applied directly over the painful area as a supplement to oral medication

💉

Steroid Injection

Steroid is placed inside the narrowed A1 tendon sheath. Many patients report months of relief from catching, though symptoms can return. It is not given if there is infection at or around the injection site. Repeated injections can weaken the tendon and cause it to rupture, so injections are spaced at least 2 weeks apart and kept to a limited number. In people with diabetes, blood sugar can rise temporarily after the injection and the response tends to be weaker

🧘

Rehabilitation

Once the pain settles, stretching and gentle tendon-gliding exercises restore movement

🩻

Imaging (X-ray & Ultrasound)

The imaging we can perform here is X-ray and ultrasound. Ultrasound shows the thickened tendon and pulley directly. If MRI or CT is needed, we arrange it at a partner facility

🔬

Surgical Release

If symptoms persist or the finger locks badly, an A1 pulley release opens the sheath to widen the tunnel. We do not perform surgery here, so we refer you to a partner hospital

📈Outlook & Recovery

🌱

Most cases improve with conservative care

Caught early, resting the finger together with a splint and anti-inflammatory medication often settles the symptoms, and a steroid injection into the tendon sheath relieves catching in a high proportion of patients. Relief can be temporary and symptoms may return, and people with diabetes or with several affected fingers tend to be harder to treat. When surgery is needed it is usually done under local anaesthetic as a day case, and most people are back to everyday activities within 1–2 weeks.

⚠️

How it differs from De Quervain's — and trigger thumb in children.
Both are tendon sheath problems, but De Quervain's affects the thumb side of the wrist and hurts at the wrist, while trigger finger affects the base of the finger and causes catching. The painful spot and the site treated are different, so we confirm which one it is by examination and ultrasound.
Young children can also develop a thumb that stays bent and will not straighten (paediatric trigger thumb); this is followed over time and surgery is considered if it does not resolve.

🖐️Self-Care Tips

💡 5 Things to Remember

Avoid long stretches of gripping with the painful finger — rest your hand between tasks
When morning stiffness is bad, warm the hand in lukewarm water and move it slowly
Do not force a stuck finger straight with your other hand
If you have diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, or are on dialysis, several fingers can be affected — please come in early
If the finger locks and will not straighten, or pain lasts more than 2 weeks, please see an orthopedic doctor

Trigger Finger

Most cases improve with conservative care

💡 5 Things to Remember

🩻 Gotokuji Orthopedic Clinic