There’s nothing like the weather to bring our health and well-being right to the surface. Whether it’s a winter chill that triggers an arthritis flair-up or a hot summer’s day that prompts us to go outside and be more active which in turn can cause a flare-up. This week we want to shed some light on what’s known as ”Trigger Finger”.
We will share more on what it is, the causes, symptoms, and possible treatment options available. We will also talk about a few great kitchen aids to have at home when the trigger finger flares up.
What is Trigger Finger?
Trigger finger is a condition that affects one or more of your hands tendons. This makes it hard to bend the affected finger or thumb. If the tendon becomes swollen and inflamed, it becomes irritated and can ‘catch’ or ‘click’.
What this means is that it can make it difficult to move your fingers and/or thumb and can result in a clicking sensation.
Trigger Finger can happen to anyone at any given time but it is more prevalent in females aged between 40-50. It can appear on those who may have has a past hand injury too.
Symptoms:
When it comes to knowing if it is a random hand or finger pain or if it is indeed trigger finger, here are a few symptoms to keep in mind.
- Pain at the base of the affected finger or thumb when you move it or press on it.
- Stiffness or clicking when you move it
- Stiffness in the morning
- Pain in your hand even when it is not moving (serious cases)
- Potential lump in your palm and your finger may get stuck in a curved or bent position (It can suddenly pop straight too)
- In serious cases your finger or thumb may never full bend or straighten again.
Causes:
For the vast majority of those who experience it, trigger finger comes from repetitive or forceful movements with your hands, fingers and thumbs. It can also happen when the tendons in your hands become inflamed, this is why so many people with arthritis will or could experience trigger finger.
There are a number of factors that can make you or someone you know more likely to have trigger finger:
- Age: It often appears between the ages of 40 – 50
- Gender: It is more common in women
- Health Conditions: Those currently living with rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes and gout can lead to trigger finger.
- Profession: Those who work with their hands such as farmers, industrial workers and musicians are more prone to developing it.
Treatment:
The good news is that there are a number of treatment options available for trigger finger. There is both surgical and non-surgical options to take into consideration. Thankfully, in the majority of cases, nonsurgical treatment is enough to bring relief from your symptoms. Have a look through the options below:
- Rest: Firstly, you may need to take time away from what is causing the problem and try not to move your fingers and thumb. If you can’t get away from the cause (because it may be work) why not try padded gloves.
- Stretch & Exercise: There are a number of gentle movements you can do to ease any stiffness and improve your overall range of motion.
- Splints: Your doctor or occupational therapist can give you a splint designed to keep your finger still until it feels better.
- Over the Counter Drugs: Talk to your doctor, they may be able to recommend drugs to help ease inflammation and pain.
For surgical options, please feel free to consult your doctor about.
Daily Living Aids for the Kitchen
Living with trigger finger can make navigating the kitchen a bit of a nightmare. You have less strength and grip in your hands. It can make the kitchen a daunting place to be. This is why we would recommend the Uccello Kettle & Grip Mat Combo.
With the Uccello Kettle, there is no more lifting of a hot and heavy kettle. With it’s unique tilt-to-pour action you need only 1 finger to make yourself a cuppa, fill a hot water bottle or top up the saucepan for the pasta.
With the Uccello Grip Mat, there is no more banging or tapping of lids on the counter, no more hand pain in trying to open jars. The grip mat is non slip and gives you added grip on both wet and dry surfaces.
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