Wellness

[89135]

Has anyone had this?  I have what seems to be trigger thumb. My thumb catches but doesn't lock..I've had for about a month..Checked internet and have done some exercises but not sure if doing more harm than good...I also wear a splint. Any suggestions?  I have an appt with my doctor in couple weeks but just wanted to know if anyone has had any good results with anything.

[FranandZoe]

Yes I've had it - so did my Dad and my brother does too.

Mine was on my middle and ring fingers - both hands.  I had Cortisone injections for years.  It works for awhile but wears off.  Then I finally had surgery and that solved the problem.  Good luck!

[Shelbelle]

I know a few who have  had surgery for it. 

[ciao_bella]

@89135   Yes!  Had a trigger left thumb 2 years ago.  I splinted it with one of those Oval-8 finger thumb splints.  Got it on Amazon.  It comes with several different sizes, so you can get the right fit for your thumb. I pretty much wore this split most of the time, so that I could still do things like wash dishes, fold cloths, etc.  I was able to do a lot wearing it and felt pretty confident using it.  

I wasn't able to get an appointment with a hand specialist until just over the entire month that I wore the splint.  He told me I could go on the rest of my life with the splint, or I could begin to 'wean' off the splint and only use it when it was necessary or when my thumb gave me a bad day.  So, that's what I did, and within the next several months my thumb began to get stronger and the clicking and locking began to be less and less.  

My thumb today is back to normal.  It did take about a full 6 months from when it started for it to be a normal working thumb.  So, have patience.    I hope this helps. 

[89135]

Might be a dumb question but does the cortisone shots hurt?? 

[89135]

@ciao_bella  Well thats good to hear...I have been wearing a thumb splint . It's not the Oval 8 but one similar..It helps..If I take off the splint it doesn't bother me until it unexpectedly bends and clicks. Was thinking the more it bends the worse it is..Was that the same in your case? Did you do any exercises for it?

[FranandZoe]

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@89135 wrote:

Might be a dumb question but does the cortisone shots hurt?? 

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@89135  Yes.  Sorry.

[Estates]

@89135 Yup,I had a trigger thumb about 10 years ago.It was my left hand which is not my dominant hand. I was trying to do more tasks with my left hand for a brain challenge. Unfortunately,that was my result. 

I went to the doctor and they said they start with meloxicam and see if the inflamation subsides. Then they move to shots then surgery,etc until relief. 

Fortunately, my pain subsided within 3 weeks and I have not been bothered with it since. Hope you can find the treatment that works for you.

[89135]

@Estates  Mine is also the left thumb. So did you try the meloxicam, shots and then surgery or did it just subside in 3 wks?

[Buffalogal47]

I had trigger thumb 20 years ago. The doctor gave me a cortisone shot (which hurt like blazes!) and prescribed naproxen. It worked; I haven't had any issues since.