Hand & Wrist Surgeon Upper Limb & Surgery Leeds

A statistically significant reduction in VAS scores and functional improvement were found between baseline and 1, 3 and 12 months posttreatment. Notably, in the present study, pain reductions continuously increased over the entire 1-year follow-up period. At 1 month post-treatment, the mean VAS score had reduced by 67% from baseline and at 12 months, it had reduced by 91%, providing excellent long-term efficacy of rESWT. Activities requiring prolonged finger flexion create microtrauma to the tendons. Over time, this leads to inflammation and thickening of the protective sheath, restricting tendon movement during finger flexion and extension.
If opted for, steroid injection relieves pain and symptoms in 70% of trigger fingers and the recovery afterward can take a few days up to a few weeks . If conservative treatments fail to provide relief, surgery may be recommended. The surgical procedure for trigger finger involves releasing the constricted tendon sheath, allowing the tendon to move freely. At times you experience pain in your fingers, particularly a popping or clicking sensation while bending or straightening them, it could be a sign of trigger finger. Common symptoms include stiffness, tenderness at the base of the affected finger or thumb, and a catching feeling during movement. At times you’re experiencing tingling, numbness, or pain in your thumb, index, or middle fingers, it could be more than just a passing annoyance; it might signal carpal tunnel syndrome.

It can affect their ability to straighten their thumb but it usually goes away without treatment. This lump catches on the pullies when you try to bend and straighten your finger — it's often painful and can make a clicking sound. Sometimes the tendon can’t go through the pully and your finger is stuck in a bent position.
Trigger finger is a temporary nuisance and can be treated conservatively in the majority of cases. Fortunately, when conservative measures fail, a quick procedure can be done under local anesthesia that can effectively resolve this condition in most cases. Bear in mind that this therapy alone cannot resolve your trigger finger and should be used in conjunction with other treatment modalities. Also, avoid holding vibrating devices with the affected hand for a prolonged period until your symptoms improve. Try not to bend your stiff finger as it can rupture its inner tendon.

A splint keeps the finger straight and extended without exerting undue pressure on the underlying tendon, thus giving it plenty of time to heal. Doctors usually recommend wearing a splint for about 6 weeks, particularly while sleeping when you are unaware of your finger placement. Rest the finger as much as possible until the swelling subsides and it becomes more flexible. Any undue exertion can worsen the damage, so you must give your finger enough time (4–6 weeks) to heal before you start using it for repeated gripping or grasping. The appointments after this will depend on your recovery at the initial review. You may be referred to a hand therapist for finger movement and strengthening exercises.
Sometimes, though, the condition becomes worse over time and will need surgical treatment. Trigger finger is a condition where a finger gets stuck in a bent position and then pops straight with a sudden snap, like pulling a trigger. We provide health informational content that’s reliable, accurate, backed by medical references, easy to understand, accessible, compassionate, and practical. Grasping these autoimmune diseases can help you seek the right relief strategies and improve your finger health. Provided more severe or recurring cases arise, surgery is an option, boasting a success rate over 90% with a recovery time of just 2-4 weeks.
People may choose operative treatment primarily as it has a more predictable outcome. Surgery is a relatively minor operation which is performed under local anaesthesia as a day case. A small incision is made on the palm of the hand at the base of the finger or thumb where the surgeon will release the narrowing. This relieves the constriction of the tendon as it passes through the sheath and stops the triggering. It is a relatively minor procedure taking approximately 10 minutes on average. Following surgery a light dressing is applied to protect the wound but allow early active movement of the fingers and thumb.

For more information on splinting, check out the Medbridge course, Evidence-Based Intervention to Restore Dynamic Thumb Stability, presented by Virginia OBrien, OTD, OTR/L, CHT. There are some things you can try to see if they help with your trigger finger. They’re covered by protective tunnels that let your tendons move freely when you move trigger finger treatment leeds your body. Trigger finger can be a nuisance and if it’s not treated your finger may stay stuck in a bent position which can make doing everyday things difficult. Finger locking in a bent or straight position, requiring manual assistance to release. Hand pain and finger stiffness, especially in the morning, making it hard to move the digit.
You can drive when your wounds are fully healed and you feel you can safely grip the steering wheel with both hands to control the car. Tendon issues – in complex cases the tendon that moves the finger may be cut or the tendon may appear more prominent when attempting to bend the finger (known as ‘bowstringing’). In these cases we will discuss the price before you book in or make a deposit.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common condition affecting up to one in twenty people. In this lipoma removal video, Mr Andrew Williams carries out a surgical lipoma removal procedure. You will hear from the patient the reasons why she is wanting to have this procedure and also how she  found the surgery.
Bromelain may also increase the potential risk of bleeding, so stop using it at least 2 weeks before any surgery. Consult your doctor if you have any health conditions such asasthma,kidney or liver disease, and heart problems. According to studies, up to 30% of people with joint stiffness in general and trigger finger in particular have complications of cardiovascular disease. The NHS generally offers a rapid diagnosis of skin cancer but patients are increasingly finding that the waiting list for treatment can be quite lengthy. In particular, patients waiting for basal cell carcinoma removal (often shortened to "BCC removal") or rodent ulcers,can wait for several months or longer to be operated on.
The surgery itself was fine and the tourniquet was not as bad as I was led to believe, more uncomfortable than painful. My recovery was quick and only took pain relief on the first night and now I have full movements on all 3 fingers that were operated on. The tendons in your hand that serve your fingers each sit within a protective membrane sheath in which they glide back and forth as you bend your fingers. It can affect any thumb or finger, including more than one at once. It's more common to find a patient has Trigger Finger in their dominant or writing hand, as they use it more heavily. By following the guidelines and tips in this ultimate style guide, you’ll be well on your way to effectively managing and treating trigger finger.

There will be some pain and swelling from the surgery itself, and you will wear a dressing to protect the wrist in the first two weeks after surgery. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can be treated using splints in the early phase, or by steroid injection or surgery when the condition has worsened. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is caused by compression of the median nerve, which controls feeling and movement in part of the hand. The median nerve travels down your arm, through your wrist and into the thumb and fingers.
Pain – when operating on more than one finger at a time the patient may experience more pain and this can occasionally last longer than anticipated. We no longer provide anti-inflammatory medication or Paracetamol as they are available over the counter. If we feel stronger pain killers are required they will be given to you on the day to take home.