Psoriatic Arthritis & Trigger Finger
Recently I wrote an article entitled “From Hip Pain To Finger Pain”. I described how I am now experiencing pain in my middle right finger. While I felt it was important I shared my experience, I learned something myself. I did not know there was a name for my specific finger pain.
One of the responses to my article was from a wonderful lady who told me the name for my finger pain: trigger finger. I also received additional comments and responses from others who said they were experiencing the same thing. Well naturally since I had never heard of it before, I turned to the internet.
Being aware that psoriatic arthritis can cause so much damage within our bodies, I felt compelled to write about trigger finger. Maybe those who suffer will feel like they are not crazy dealing with this new condition. It is typically our notion to just dismiss some new condition as it being in our mind.
So, what is trigger finger?
According to the Mayo Clinic, trigger finger is defined as a condition in which one finger gets stuck in a bent position.
In my case, my trigger finger would be my right middle finger. My finger gets stuck when I make a fist and then pops back to a straightened position when I open my hand. For example, if you use a spray bottle, when you pull the trigger whatever spray comes out, and then the trigger pops back in place so you can spray again.
To say it is painful is an understatement. The relief comes when the finger finally snaps back into a straightened form. The medical term for trigger finger is stenosing tenosynovitis. Say that five times fast. As I always say, psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis is just that gift that keeps on giving.
What causes trigger finger?
The number one cause of trigger finger is inflammation. The inflammation narrows the space around the tendon causing it to get stuck when you bend it. It can be mild to severe.
In severe cases, your finger can get stuck in that bent position. For me at least that is a scary thought. One of the things I found very interesting in researching about trigger finger is that the condition is found more in women than in men and also affects people who have diabetes.
How is trigger finger diagnosed?
The diagnosis is pretty straightforward. A doctor will look at your medical history and ask you to bend your fingers. He might also check to see if there is a bump on the finger caused by the inflammation.
Treatment varies. It can be simply an anti-inflammatory if the case is mild, a splint that you wear at night, or possible surgery if the condition is severe. I will forewarn you that if you research trigger finger treatment the surgery part does not sound pleasant at all.
However, if the case is severe and the finger is stuck in that bent position, I can absolutely see where surgery would be needed to straighten the finger. I never want to scare anyone. My intention is to educate so everyone knows about this. I had no clue there was such a thing. I am guessing that a lot of you didn’t know either.
Talk with your doctor
If you are experiencing trigger finger, please talk with your doctor. Psoriatic arthritis can affect the whole body. While back and knee pain is the most dominant area that arthritis can affect, it is always best to remember it can and will affect the whole body.
I use my hands a lot. Spending a lot of time typing is required in the job I do. I do not want anything to stop me from doing what I love to do. To the lady who responded to my article sharing the true definition of trigger finger, I send my appreciation your way. To those who have never heard about trigger finger, but may be experiencing it, I hope this helps explains it.
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