What does it mean when you can't bend your thumb?

Thumb Osteoarthritis

This is known as osteoarthritis. Thumb arthritis can lead to stiffness of the thumb and a severely reduced range of motion. Osteoarthritis can also lead to pain around the thumb, swelling at the base of the thumb, and reduced grip strength.

What does it mean if it hurts when I bend my thumb?

This pain could be a symptom of thumb injury or overuse, basal joint arthritis, or carpal tunnel syndrome. Additionally, pain at the base of your thumb can be caused by injuries to the ligaments at the lower part of your hand and in your wrist.

How do you fix a trigger thumb?

Why is my thumb locked in a straight position?

Trigger finger, also known as stenosing tenosynovitis, occurs when any finger, including the thumb, becomes stuck in a bent position as if holding onto a trigger. After becoming stuck, the finger may snap into a straight position as if a trigger is being released.

What happens if trigger thumb goes untreated?

If left untreated, trigger finger can rapidly progress to where your thumb and another finger are locked in a bent or straight position. In the most severe cases, you may have trouble uncurling your finger without using the other hand.

locked Trigger Thumb Classic - Everything You Need To Know - Dr. Nabil Ebraheim

When should you see a doctor for trigger thumb?

Seek immediate medical care if your finger joint is hot and inflamed, as these signs may indicate an infection. If you have any stiffness, catching, numbness or pain in a finger joint, or if you can't straighten or bend a finger, make an appointment with your doctor.

How long does it take for trigger thumb to go away?

Elevating your hand above your heart can help reduce pain and swelling. Although your incision will heal within a few weeks, it may take from 4 to 6 months for swelling and stiffness in your hand and fingers or thumb to go away completely.

How do you fix a trigger thumb naturally?

Resting your hands if possible, wearing a splint at night, stretching exercises and a steroid injection all can alleviate trigger finger without surgery. Severity of trigger finger can be as simple as an annoying pop or sensation of the joint being stuck when you extend the finger.

What are the first signs of arthritis in fingers?

Can I fix trigger finger on my own?

Doctors can assess the extent of tendonitis and suggest the right procedure. Extensive pain and discomfort and a finger that can't move may need surgery. If the issue is manageable with proper care, trigger fingers will heal naturally.

Is it trigger finger or arthritis?

If your thumb or finger gets stuck in a bent position, you probably have a condition called trigger finger. While it can be preceded by a hand injury or strain, trigger finger is most commonly associated with arthritis.

How do you unlock trigger thumb?

Place your fingers in warm water for 5-10 minutes in the morning and exercise your fingers while they are soaked by making a gentle fist then spread all fingers apart. This process should be done slowly and gently in warm water. Stretching exercises for hand muscles and tendons should be done appropriately.

How long does trigger finger take to heal?

It will probably take about 6 weeks for your finger to heal completely. After it heals, your finger may move easily without pain. How soon you can return to work depends on your job.

Why can't my thumb bend back?

Trigger finger is a condition that affects one or more of the hand's tendons, making it difficult to bend the affected finger or thumb. If a tendon or the tunnel a tendon runs through (called the tendon sheath) becomes swollen and inflamed, the tendon gets irritated and can "catch" in the tendon sheath.

Can thumb arthritis be cured?

Outlook. While there is no cure for arthritis in your thumb, there are various simple treatments that can help relieve symptoms for many people. Talk with a doctor or physical therapist about which treatments might work best for you. A CRP test may be used to diagnose inflammatory autoimmune diseases.

What does thumb arthritis feel like?

Swelling, stiffness and tenderness at the base of your thumb. Decreased strength when pinching or grasping objects. Decreased range of motion. Enlarged or bony appearance of the joint at the base of your thumb.

What triggers hand arthritis?

The exact cause of hand arthritis is unknown. The condition usually develops due to wear and tear of the joint, which occurs gradually over time. There's also a genetic component to hand OA. Family members may develop OA at a younger age than the general population, and may have more severe disease.

At what age does arthritis usually start?

It most commonly starts among people between the ages of 40 and 60. It's more common in women than men. There are drugs that can slow down an over-active immune system and therefore reduce the pain and swelling in joints.

At what age does arthritis in the fingers start?

It often starts when a person is between 40 and 50 years old. Women are 3 times more likely to be affected than men. In rheumatoid arthritis, the body's immune system targets affected joints, which leads to pain and swelling. The outer covering (synovium) of the joint is the first place affected.

What exercises are good for trigger thumb?

Clench your hand into a loose fist, then slowly uncurl the thumb and fingers at the same time until they've fully extended. Hold the stretch for two seconds, then curl thumb and fingers back into a loose fist. Repeat this exercise 10 times.

Does massage help trigger thumb?

It's also recommended that you practice self-massage to help treat trigger finger. This can be done for a few minutes at a time throughout the day. It's especially beneficial for you to massage the affected finger before and after these exercises.

Will trigger finger get worse if not treated?

Trigger finger treatment is necessary to fix the condition. If trigger finger is not treated, the pain, swelling, and stiffness will get progressively worse. In severe cases, you'll no longer be able to straighten the affected finger. The two treatment options for trigger finger are cortisone injections and surgery.

What is the best anti-inflammatory for trigger finger?

Topical NSAIDs such as ketoprofen and oral NSAIDs such as ibuprofen are commonly given to relieve the pain from trigger finger.

Why do I suddenly have trigger finger?

Causes of Trigger Finger

Most of the time, it comes from a repeated movement or forceful use of your finger or thumb. It can also happen when tendons -- tough bands of tissue that connect muscles and bones in your finger or thumb -- get inflamed.