7 Trigger Finger Self-Care Remedies

Trigger finger can limit finger movement and make it difficult to straighten and bend the affected finger. This condition results from inflammation of the tendons that flex the fingers, causing pain and tenderness. Tendons are connective tissues that attach muscles to bone.

Trigger finger needs treatment, or it will get worse. Advanced symptoms include the affected finger getting locked in a bent or straight position. The ring finger and thumb are the most commonly affected digits, but the condition can affect any finger. When the thumb is affected, the condition is called trigger thumb.

This article explains the nonsurgical, at-home treatment options, including splinting, hand and finger exercises, and heat therapy, which might help you avoid surgery.

About Trigger Finger

Trigger finger and trigger thumb are sometimes called stenosing tenosynovitis. Tenosynovitis is inflammation of a tendon in its synovial sheath (covering).

The causes of trigger finger are not always known. The condition is sometimes linked to medical conditions like rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and diabetes. Local trauma (injury) to the palm or base of the hand can also lead to the condition.

Symptoms of trigger finger include:

• Soreness and tenderness at the base of the affected finger
• A bump around the base of the finger or in the palm
• A clicking or snapping noise with movement 
• Stiffness with movement 

Symptoms may be worse first thing in the morning but will improve as the finger starts to relax.

The article explains the non-surgical, at-home treatment options, including splinting, hand and finger exercises, and heat therapy, which might help you avoid surgery. 

Rest

One of the easiest ways to treat and manage pain and symptoms from a trigger finger is rest. Resting the hand and finger can often reduce your symptoms.

It is essential to give your finger time to heal, which could take several weeks. Rest your affected hand and finger as much as possible until the swelling improves and you can bend the finger again.

Any overexertion can damage the finger joint, which could lead to joint, tendon, or nerve damage.

Splinting

Use a splint over the affected finger to hold it in place in a straight position. Splinting helps to reduce strain, twisting, or bending of your affected finger. Movement can lead to tissue damage and prolong your recovery time.

Trigger finger also causes the affected finger to be incredibly stiff in the morning, so splint therapy can help reduce morning stiffness. 

Splinting for six to nine weeks can allow for gradual improvement, according to a 2020 Journal of Primary Care & Community Health report. This is especially important while you sleep because this is the time when you are unaware of your finger placement. 

Hand and Finger Exercises

The best hand and finger exercises for trigger fingers are those that improve flexibility. When the tendons of the finger joints are flexible, movement of the affected finger becomes easier, and symptoms like pain, stiffness, and joint locking are reduced. Regular movement of the fingers can also keep them from locking up.

The American Society for Surgery of the Hand recommends the following hand and finger exercises:

Differential Tendon Gliding 

Tendon glides are stretches that help mobilize the tendon along the fingers, decrease tension, and improve movement. For this exercise, keep the wrist straight. Completing all the steps counts as one repetition:

1. Support your wrist with your other hand, keeping the fingers straight in midair.
2. Bend all the fingers at once so they are at a 90-degree angle to the hand. Return to a straight-up position.
3. Bend the middle and top joints of the fingers, trying to curl the tops of the fingers to the palm. Then, return to a straight position.
4. Make a loose fist with your thumb to the side and then return to a straight position. 
5. Bend the knuckles and middle finger joints and reach for your palm.

DIP Joint Blocking

The distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint is the finger joint closest to your fingertip, just before the nail starts. This is the joint closest to your fingertip.

The DIP joint blocking exercise can isolate the affected joint in the finger or thumb to restore strength and prevent further problems. It can also provide relief from pain, stiffness, and locking. 

You will want to exercise one finger at a time for the DIP joint-blocking exercise.

1. Start with your palm facing up, supporting your affected hand with your other hand just below the DIP joint. 
2. Bend (flex) and extend (straighten) the affected finger at each joint.
3. Hold each position for three to five seconds.
4. Repeat for each finger.

PIP Joint Blocking

The proximal interphalangeal joint is the joint of the finger nearest the palm. It bends and extends and can quickly become stiff following an injury. 

Exercise one finger at a time, as follows:

1. Start by using your opposite hand to grasp and stabilize the affected finger at the area where a ring would sit, just below the middle joint. 
2. Bend and straighten the finger at the middle joint only.
3. Hold the rest of the finger straight.
4. Repeat for each finger individually. 

Wrist Flexion and Extension

Wrist flexion involves bending the hand down at the wrist so the palm faces the arm. It is part of the normal range of motion of the wrist.

Extension involves moving the hand backward so the palm is facing up. It is also a normal part of the wrist’s range of motion.

If wrist flexion and extension are impaired, you may have trouble with daily tasks involving the hand and wrist.

With the wrist flexion and extension exercise:

1. Start by supporting the affected forearm (between the wrist and elbow) with your opposite hand.
2. Set the fingers into a relaxed, light fist and slowly bend the wrist back and forth.

Wrist Circumduction 

Wrist circumduction involves moving the wrist in a circular motion. This is similar to the exercise called alphabet writing:

1. Begin the wrist circumduction exercise by supporting the forearm with the opposite hand just below your wrist. Resting your elbow on a table can offer additional support. 
2. Form a loose fist.
3. Practice writing the alphabet using capital letters in the air and using the wrist for movement.
4. Once the movement becomes more manageable, the letters will become smaller and neater.

Heat Therapy

Heat therapy, such as using a moist heating pad or soaking the affected finger in warm water, can help alleviate stiffness and pain related to the trigger finger. Heat can also increase blood flow.

Soaking the affected finger in warm water, especially when symptoms first start, can ease them. The warmth will dilate blood vessels and improve blood flow to reduce inflammation and stiffness.

Massage

Massage may help unlock a trigger finger. To massage the affected finger, apply gentle pressure and a circular motion at the affected knuckle and the base of the finger on the palm side. 

You will also want to massage the fingers, hand, wrist, and forearm connected to the affected finger. You can follow the massage with hand and finger stretches.

Adaptive Tools

Adaptive tools can help reduce the symptoms of trigger finger, including friction and inflammation. Such aids include soft grip tools for use at home and work, altered handle tools, padded gloves, assistive kitchen devices, and splints.

OTC Medications

Over-the-counter (OTC) oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including Advil (ibuprofen) and Aleve (naproxen), and topical pain relievers are first-line treatments for mild trigger finger.

Voltaren (diclofenac) gel is a commonly used OTC topical anti-inflammatory that works by blocking cyclooxygenase (COX), an enzyme that promotes inflammation.

Anti-inflammatory oral medications and topicals can help reduce pain and inflammation. When inflammation is improved, the ability to move the affected finger gets better.

A healthcare provider can prescribe stronger oral and topical pain relievers for severe trigger finger. Topical and oral pain relievers can be combined with other therapies, including splinting and hand and wrist exercises.

Does Trigger Finger Go Away on Its Own?

Trigger finger will not go away on its own. It typically gets worse without treatment. Fortunately, most people can manage their symptoms with anti-inflammatory medicines and other conservative therapies. 

If you are able to manage symptoms with self-care, the trigger finger will heal. However, if conservative therapies fail, your healthcare provider will recommend seeing a hand specialist who may recommend surgical treatments. 

Corticosteroid Injections

Corticosteroids can be injected into the tendon sheath at the base of the affected finger. In most cases, the injection can resolve the condition quickly and completely stop symptoms.

If symptoms do not improve with the first injection, a second one can be given. If two injections do not help, surgery is often the next step.

Does Trigger Finger Always Require Surgery?

Corticosteroid injections, also called steroid injections and cortisone injections, can be injected into the tendon sheath at the base of the affected finger. In most cases, the injection can resolve the condition quickly and completely stop symptoms.

If symptoms do not improve with the first injection, a second one can be given. If two injections do not help, surgery is often the next step.

If you try nonsurgical treatment and the trigger finger does not resolve, your healthcare provider will recommend surgery. They may also recommend surgery if the finger becomes permanently bent or locked or after two failed corticosteroid injections.

The primary purpose of surgical treatment is to release the tissues in the area located at the base of the finger so the tendon can move gently and freely. This procedure is called a trigger finger release. 

If you still have symptoms after a trigger finger release, a flexor tenosynovectomy might be recommended. That surgery removes the thickened lining from the tendon surface. If symptoms continue further, part of the superficial tendon can be removed to reduce the tendon’s volume. 

Exercises for Trigger Finger Prevention and Pain Reduction

Engaging in trigger finger exercises can help you to relieve pain and keep the condition from worsening. 

Wrist Stretching

Different wrist stretches can help manage trigger finger symptoms and prevent them from getting worse.

Clenched Wrist Bend:

1. Start by loosely clenching the fist and placing it on a hard surface with the thumb upward.
2. Bend the fingers and wrist forward toward your body. 
3. Hold the stretch for two seconds.
4. Return to the wrist to the start position. 
5. Repeat 10 times. 

Side to Side Wrist Bend:

1. Start with the palm down on the table and the wrist straight. 
2. Bend the wrist as far as you can to the left. Hold the stretch for two seconds. 
3. Move the wrist back to the starting position.
4. Bend the wrist as far as you can to the right. Hold the stretch for two seconds.
5. Move the wrist back to the start.
6. Repeat 10 times on each side. 

Fingertip Bend

The fingertip bend is an easy exercise that targets the finger joint of the affected finger, as follows: 

1. Start by holding your hand in front of you with the palm facing the ground.
2. Wrap the opposite hand of the affected finger between the fingertip and the joint closest to the fingertip.
3. Slow pull the fingertip upwards while keeping the other fingers straight. 
4. Repeat 10 times, up to five times a day.

Middle Joint Bend

This middle joint bend may improve pain and flexibility in the PIP joint:

1. Start by holding the finger just below the middle joint.
2. Bend the finger forward and then return to the original position. 
3. Stretch both joints by holding the finger below the knuckle joint and bending both joints.
4. Perform this exercise up to 10 times, five times a day.

Palm Stretch

The palm strength helps to stretch the fingers and wrist.

1. Start by placing the palms of the hands together in front of you so your fingers are just below your chin. 
2. Slowly lower the hands to the waistline until the stretch is felt in the wrist and fingers.
3. Hold for 10 seconds before bringing the hands back to the starting position.
4. Repeat two to four times.

Ball Squeeze

The ball squeeze uses a small ball to stretch and strengthen the fingers.

1. Start by holding a small ball in the palm.
2. Use the fingertips to apply pressure to the ball for a few seconds.
3. Release the ball and flatten out the palm.
4. Do three or four repetitions, three to four times a day.

Summary 

Trigger finger is a painful condition that can cause your finger or thumb to catch or lock when you bend it. It can affect any finger, but it frequently affects the ring finger or thumb. Trigger finger is also called stenosing tenosynovitis.

You can manage mild cases of trigger finger with rest, heat, stretching, OTC pain relievers, and splinting. The most effective nonsurgical treatment for trigger finger is a corticosteroid injection, and most people can get relief with a single shot. Others may need a second shot for long-term or complete relief. 

Trigger finger will not go away without treatment. If it worsens or is untreated, it can lead to limited finger motion. In these cases, surgery will be needed to treat the condition and return function and motion to the affected digit. 

You might be able to manage and prevent symptoms of trigger finger with wrist, hand, and finger exercises.