Triggered

George K · "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

Sigh...

I mean, CRAP.

My left middle finger has been bothering me for a while. When Mrs. George saw her ortho guy, I asked him about it. He said it was a trigger finger - I can't extend that finger like the others, and then it "pops."

I made an appt with a hand surgeon for a couple of weeks from now. Hopefully an injection will take care of it.

Getting old ain't for sissies.

Mik

Impeding your playing?

George K · "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

@Mik said in Triggered:

Impeding your playing?

Yup. Pain, mostly. The mobility is not much of an issue (I've always played with pretty curved, not flat, fingers).

Link to video

Klaus

Damn. Will this get better?

George K · "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

@Klaus said in Triggered:

Damn. Will this get better?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trigger_finger

Splinting, non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and corticosteroid injections are regarded as conservative first-line treatments for stenosing tenosynovitis. However, NSAIDs have been found to be ineffective by themselves. Early treatment of trigger thumb has been associated with better treatment outcomes. Surgical treatment of trigger thumb can be complicated by injury to the digital nerves, scarring, tenderness, or a contracture of the joint. A higher rate of symptom improvement has been observed when surgical management is paired with corticosteroid injections when compared to corticosteroid injections alone.

Treatment consists of injection of a corticosteroid such as methylprednisolone often combined with a local anesthetic (lidocaine) at the site of maximal inflammation or tenderness around the A1 pulley of the finger in the palm. The infiltration of the affected site can be performed using standard anatomic landmarks or sonographically guided, and often needs to be repeated 2 or three times to achieve remission. An irreducibly locked trigger, often associated with a flexion contracture of the PIP joint, should not be treated by injections.

Injection of the tendon sheath with a corticosteroid is effective over weeks to months in more than half of people.

When corticosteroid injection fails, the problem is predictably resolved by a relatively simple surgical procedure (usually outpatient, under local anesthesia). The surgeon will cut the sheath that is restricting the tendon.

One study suggests that the most cost-effective treatment is two trials of corticosteroid injection, followed by open release of the first annular pulley. Choosing surgery immediately is the most expensive option and is often not necessary for resolution of symptoms.[11] A 2009 Cochrane review of corticosteroid injection for trigger finger found only two pseudo-randomized controlled trials for a total pooled success rate of only 37%.

Copper

Or you could just wait until the other 3 behave like the middle.

Then they'll be back in synch.

Loki

Surgery often works great and is no biggie, if it comes to that. I know someone who has had three of those and hands work great.

George K · "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

I'm not all that concerned. This is more of a PITA than anything serious.

D2 was worried whether I could still extend the middle finger independently. I assured her it's not a problem.

George K · "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

So, I've had two injections. Playing the piano is painful, so I've been avoiding.

The second one was in March of this year. I got good relief until 6 weeks ago. The finger started acting up, this time with more pain than actual "locking up."

I saw my hand surgeon yesterday, and after examining me, he says that another injection (I've had two, you're allowed three) probably won't do anything.

I need an operation.

It's really a nothing - done under local anesthesia and there's no rehab, PT, restriction of activity, etc. The only thing is to keep it clean and to keep mobility up.

Gonna schedule for after the holidays.

Damn...

Mik

Crap. Hope it goes well. I've been going back to the piano lately, but doing mostly exercises for my weak area, timing.

George K · "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

Mrs. George had the surgical release about a month ago.

It's really nothing more than a PITA.

Aqua Letifer

@george-k said in Triggered:

I'm not all that concerned. This is more of a PITA than anything serious.

D2 was worried whether I could still extend the middle finger independently. I assured her it's not a problem.

"Hold on."
"What?"
"I need to show you something, it's important. Let me just get my hand loosened up and there, there we go. Fuck you."