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You should notice an increase in active motion immediately after surgery and be able to return to your usual activities as comfort allows. You will be put under general anesthesia, or will receive a bier block (intravenous regional anesthesia) and your surgeon will open the muscle at the base of your affected finger to give the tendon a smoother range of motion. Trigger finger surgery works by widening the tunnel that the impacted tendon travels through, alleviating your stiffness and pain. If these measures fail to reduce your pain, an orthopedic surgeon can correct the problem with trigger finger surgery. Eliminating or modifying the activity that causes the symptoms can help as well if repetitive motion is the cause of your pain.Ī splint can help immobilize your finger and further relieve symptoms. Pain relievers can help alleviate the inflammation that causes trigger finger in some cases. Musicians, factory workers, and people who engage in handcrafts like crocheting or knitting often suffer from trigger finger. Repetitive motion and some medical conditions can cause trigger finger. When this happens, you will notice pain, stiffness, and a snapping or popping sound. When the tendons in your hands and arms become inflamed or irritated, they cannot move as readily through the thin tunnel of ligament that holds them in place.
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When the tendons in your finger or thumb become inflamed, they can become stuck or locked into a bent position. This outpatient surgery is usually done under local anesthesia and you will go home the same day. Your surgeon will make an incision at the base of your palm, cut the ligament, and close then your hand with stitches. If there is nerve damage, orthopedic surgery may be required.Ĭarpal tunnel surgery eliminates your symptoms by releasing pressure on the median nerve thought a cut to the transverse carpal ligament. If your symptoms do not resolve within a few weeks, it may be an indication that you have nerve damage. Using ice packs and wearing a wrist splint to stabilize your hand and arm at night can also reduce the pressure and alleviate your symptoms. Mild or first-time symptoms can be treated with rest and over-the-counter pain relievers. Common signs of carpal tunnel syndrome include pain in the thumb and first three fingers (the pinky finger is not usually affected). When this pathway is compromised, from either illness or repetitive motion, your median nerve is put under pressure resulting in tingling, weakness, and numbness in your hands, wrists, and arms. This pathway runs from your forearm to your hand via a small tunnel in your wrist – the carpal tunnel. The ability to move your hand and feel sensations in your thumb and first three fingers is directly connected to the median nerve. An orthopedic surgeon can correctly diagnose and treat the symptoms of either carpal tunnel or trigger finger. If you are experiencing excessive pain or stiffness, discuss your pain management options with your doctor. Trigger finger targets a sole finger or thumb, locking the joint uncomfortably into place and making even simple movements difficult. This extends your pain, numbness, and weakness. While both conditions affect your hands, carpal tunnel also affects the wrist, forearm, and selected fingers. Certain symptoms differentiate the two conditions, and dictate the course of treatment.Ĭarpal tunnel syndrome and trigger finger both affect your hand causing pain, stiffness, and reduced ability to work or manipulate objects. If you are experiencing pain in your hands or wrists, you may be experiencing symptoms of either Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or Trigger Finger.
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