Trigger Finger

Excerpts from the entry on Trigger Finger in Relieving Pain Naturally by Dr. Sylvia Goldfarb and Roberta W. Waddell. For full entries on all 37 conditions and 27 treatments, order the book.

Trigger finger is an inflammation of the tendons in the palm of the hand (tendons are the fibrous cords of tissue that connect muscles to bones). Aging makes tendons more susceptible to injury, but anyone who performs repetitive motions or plays sports regularly can develop this form of tendonitis. The tendons in the palm are used for grasping and hand dexterity, and they work in a pulley system. If they become inflamed, a condition called tenosynovitis develops and a nodule forms. When you bend your finger, the nodule gets caught in the pulley system. Then when you try to extend your finger, it snaps (triggers) in its attempt to slide through the pulley.

Also in this entry:

• Symptoms
• Common Causes
• Diagnosing the Problem
• Conventional Treatments
• Problems with Some Conventional Treatments
• Self-Help Alternative Treatments
• Assisted Alternative Treatments
• Practical Suggestions

See below for full list of all conditions and treatments in the book. Or, download a complete Condition entry or Treatment entry for free.