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Explain trigger finger
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09/14/2013 14:37
pia2some 
09/14/2013 14:37
pia2some 
Explain trigger finger

I've read about trigger fingers online but I'm still not sure what it is. I thought maybe someone on here could explain it for me. Thanks!

~ dawn

09/14/2013 16:16
spanishbuddha 

Administrator

09/14/2013 16:16
spanishbuddha 

Administrator

Re: Explain trigger finger

Since you've read about it online, let me try a different analogy.

Imagine an elastic or stretchy rope running through several pipes, and in between the pipes over pulleys. If you pull on the rope it will pull the pipes together and possibly into a curve made from the pipe segments.

Now suppose a pipe, or all pipes, get gummed up, or the pulleys stick with dirty bearings.

When you pull on the rope instead of sliding smoothly it will catch and resist the pull and stretch a bit or even stop, until the pulling force and stretch in the rope overcomes the catching, which is caused by the gummed up pipes and dirty pulley bearings. At this point the rope will suddenly pull through in the direction of the pull, with a jerk and the pipes will close up on one another into a curve with a snap.

Replace the rope with tendons, the pipes with tendon sheaths, and the pulleys with tendon pulleys and you have trigger finger. In the hand there are two sets of tendons, above and below the fingers or hands to close and open the fingers and hand.

There is usually no connection with DD, unless nodules or cords compress on the tendon sheaths and pulleys.

09/14/2013 16:32
pia2some 
09/14/2013 16:32
pia2some 
Re: Explain trigger finger

Thank you! I drew a little diagram as I read and I think I've got it.

My left hand has huge nodules in the palm and the ring finger is contracting at the MCP joint very badly right now. There isn't any contracture on the PIP joint. However, that PIP joint is constantly getting stuck. For example, I was putting clean sheets on the bed this morning. I grabbed the side of the sheet to pull it down over the mattress. I did this by grabbing the sheet with all the fingers of my left hand. Immediately that ring finger locks and will not move. So I have to let go of the sheet, open and close my hand a couple of times and then the finger gets 'unstuck' and I can continue on. It's highly annoying and has caused me to drop things and not have a good grip when I go to grab or pull something. Between that and the finger contracting at the MCP joint, the whole thing is becoming a real problem.

Is it just something you grow accustomed to?

~ dawn

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