Wellness

[LogoFan]

I have read other posts regarding this issue.  I have not yet been diagnosed, but believe this is my problem.

One thing that was not discussed is how long the recovery is from this very simple surgery.  Only asking because I am a senior and on my own and just wondering how long I may be unable to use my left hand where symptoms are happening.

[petitelady7]

This procedure is a piece of cake!  After the surgery, a bandaid was placed on the area where the incision was, and in a couple days I was good as new.  

[deeva]

I had this surgery three years ago. I took one pill for pain post surgery, that was all I needed. 

The recovery time for me was around two weeks, mostly because of the stitches.

After 10 days they were removed and the few stretching excercises weren't painful. 

[gizmogal]

Fear not! Recovery was pretty much super easy and brief. I'm 71 and I live alone. I had the surgery on my right thumb. If there's a finger you need for everything it's your thumb! And it was my dominant hand. I thought I'd not be able to tie my shoes or hook my bra with the dressing on. Not true. My surgeon dressed the hand in such a way that I had most of my right hand fingers free to do everyday tasks. The top half of the thumb was uncovered and that was useful. 

I came back to the surgeon  in 3 days and the dressing (gauze wrapping and tape) was removed and reduced to nothing more than a bandaid. I was then allowed to get it wet in a shower and replace the bandaid after patting the wound dry. The stitches (only a tiny few) remained for another week. Once the stitches were removed, I was free to get use of my full hand while I practiced restoring the thumb to flexibility and dexterity.

Surgery was completely successful. The thumb was weak and needed a little physical therapy to be completely dexterous. The hand surgeon's PT staff demonstrated proper exercises on my left hand and then made me commit to doing the few different routines a few times a day at home until my right thumb was just as good as my left. It took a month for this to be just a memory. 

Trigger never was apparent again from day one of the surgery.  My "hospital" time, from saying hi to saying bye,  was about 2 hours as an outpatient. My neighbor took me, waited, and drove me home. I had no post-op pain that a Tylenol couldn't handle.  There isn't even a scar to show off; the tiny incision was done in the crease of my thumb joint where it meets the palm. 

I was a little scared and it was silly now that I look back. Trigger finger is common among diabetics, especially, (I am one) but not unheard of in the rest of the aging population. I took an unsuccessful cortisone shot hoping to free the tendon, but submitted to surgery when it was clear I had to have a better cure. 

No worries, nominal discomfort, easy rehab you do at home, and very little inconvenience for bathing or dressing or handling utensils, etc. 

Because it was my right hand and i has the same concerns as you--I didn't know how much recovery i might make in any given interval-- I signed several blank checks in advance of the surgery so I could easily pay bills or cover finances while the thumb healed. Highly recommended to sign a couple of checks to use as needed if your trigger finger is on your dominant hand. Otherwise, just take all this in stride.  I needed no help at all, I was alone and not young and it was just a few days of dressing, then bandaid then nothing. 

Good luck. You'll be fine. Hope I helped. 

[ahoymate]

My experience with an orthopedic surgeon & trigger finger was a shot of cortizone in the finger. Went away, no more issues.

[chickenbutt]

I had a trigger thumb for a year or so a while back.  While I was in care for my broken arm the doc said he could operate but I read a lot of problems with the surgery so I finally figured it out myself and fixed it.

I got one of those thumb gard things that you slide over the thumb and tape it on, so it will stay.  But, being a hand-washer and having to use my hands, I found that needed tweaking.  So I removed the tape and put it on with two band-aids so I could slip it off when I needed.  That was it was easy to remove, yet it stayed on nicely when I wanted it on.

Then, when I was not doing anything I would take off the brace and massage the joint.  I probably just spent minutes a few times a day massaging the joint.   It didn't take too long and it was totally gone.  Been gone for a couple of years now, so I don't think it's coming back.   I cannot attribute any medical site for that.  It just came out of my crazy brain.

All it cost me was the thumb brace thingie and a couple of band-aids.  It's one of those kind of aluminum looking things that has padding in the middle and it slips over the top of the finger like an old-timey clothes pin or something.  I hope that makes sense.  Cost a couple bucks. 

[LogoFan]

Thanks to all who responded so quickly.  My problem is actually not my dominant hand.  Also I have not yet seen the orthopedic hand specialist.  Having to wait one month for appointment.  In the beginning I thought maybe was carpal tunnel syndrome; but seems more like issues I have seen about topic here (trigger finger).  My hair stylist was actually person who told me to look up this condition.

Unfortunately I have related concerns about this.  I was diagnosed with positional vertigo almost 10 years ago.  I sleep only on my left side and keep my head elevated with a "dog bone" type pillow.  As a result my left hand ends up under that pillow at night.  Am now trying to keep my left hand out from under my head/pillow to help with symptoms.  Sleeping habits are difficult to change.  Also, I have a spinal condition called Spondylolisthesis which affects my lower back with constant pain and left leg with a permanent weakness in calf area from sciatic nerve on left side only.

I will need to discuss whether or not what is happening with both specialists to be sure not related to nerve issues on left side of body from spine.  All I can say is really hate getting older.  Seems like new issues never end.

Once gain, thanks for the input and reassurances regarding this surgery.

[chickenbutt]

I don't know if you're having a lot of pain with this but if you are you might want to try putting it in one of those finger brace things for much of the time and see if that makes it at least let up.

Mine had gotten to the point that it was extremely painful and that was why I took it into my own hands, so to speak, to make it go away.  

I don't know if it was the finger cot or the massaging, or both, but it's 100% gone.

[deeva]

@ahoymate 

You were fortunate. After having three injections over eighteen months, my surgeon and I both agreed this was no going to solve my problem. 

[willdob3]

@LogoFan 

My PCP was scheduling surgery for for this for me when I happened to read that it can be caused by B6 deficiency. I decided to try supplementing before surgery because all surgeries are hard on our bodies and, if it was a deficiency issue, surgery would not correct it. 

My problem resolved itself quickly - and completely - with supplementation. No surgery necessary.