Some people with trigger fingers may think that surgery is their best choice. However, this isn't in all circumstances the case, as it can turn out to be more expensive and risky than alternative options like medication, rest, splinting, and massage. Many individuals prefer to manage their trigger finger at home to avoid going under the surgeon's scalpel altogether! Here are some tips on how you can treat your condition yourself.
Rest
Trigger fingers occur when the tendons in your finger become strained and inflamed, which restricts your range of motion. Rest is a commonly overlooked treatment option that shouldn't be! If possible, avoid the activities that aggravate your affected finger – you need to let time do its work while allowing the inflammation to subside and letting your tendon heal. To help it along, taking four-to-six weeks off from doing things such as typing at work or playing a musical instrument may benefit you when you return to more strenuous tasks to free up some space on other joints.
Hot and Cold Therapy
Just as one can run a company using both heat and cold, you can treat trigger fingers by drawing upon two different yet complementary approaches. Heat will soothe an injury while cold numbs the pain. Both treatments can be done right at home or on the go with minimal equipment.
When you have a trigger finger at home, first use topical heat to soothe your injury. Be careful of how much a herbal heating pad you use; start with just five minutes and then evaluate the gradients of warmth while sitting on a ball. Now put a cold pack on your hand and fingers to numb any pain receptors. Typically this will last anywhere between 90 mins to 2 hrs, depending on your symptoms. Ask your physio healthcare professional for more details.
Hot Therapy
The heat helps stretch blood vessels and allows more blood to reach the area. It speeds healing time and takes away soreness. Hot therapy can be provided with a herbal heating pad, warm soak, or a moist heated towel. Heat can be used if you have peripheral nerve damage or your hand is numb or tingly.
Cold therapy
Cold therapy pack has been scientifically proven to shut down pain receptors. By introducing cold into an area, the blood vessels tighten around your skin, causing a decrease in inflammation which reduces swelling. The cold also shuts down the pain receptors in the nerves and provides you with medication-free pain relief. Try cooling off with a cold pack or ice bath for additional treatment.
Self-Massage
One of the best ways to avoid many more common hand ailments is to give your hands a little attention every day. Massaging your fingers daily can often be quite effective, especially when combined with other hand therapy methods. The simple act by which one can rub their hands together for a few minutes releases dead skin cells and increases oxygenated blood flow, which is essential for tissue health. It helps the body break down nutrients to increase flexibility and that sense of overall well-being. One should avoid massaging if their hands or fingers have been swollen.
Effleurage
Using light, sweeping motions will loosen up tight muscles without applying too much pressure to the area. It is a typical massage technique popular among massage therapists, and it's easy to see why! This type of massage doesn't involve vigorous or concentrated rubbing, so gentle and soothing. You can practice this on a friend or family member, even if they're not your average weightlifter!
Exercise
Exercise will help you maintain hand strength and flexibility. There are multiple options available to you to try and increase your range of motion, but you need to find something that works for you. Your physical therapist or occupational therapist will provide you with a list of recommended exercises. They can guide you through the process of how much time it's recommended to spend on each one in your exercise program. You must follow all their instructions so as not to hurt yourself unnecessarily.
Splinting
A splint will help keep your finger, or a specific part of it, immobile and relatively pain-free. Rest should be an essential component in the recovery process from the trigger finger to give your body time to heal. A splint can help while you rest your affected finger without keeping your hand completely immobilized!
Finger splints are like regular bandages that prevent you from using a specific finger or palm. They can either only cover your finger joints or go over your fingers and around your knuckles. They have Velcro straps on the back that allow for flexibility; finger splints help keep a broken finger still to heal better and avoid re-injury. It also reminds you not to use the injured area of your hand not to hurt yourself again.
Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
If you have a trigger finger, which is a bothersome condition that occurs when your tendons become inflamed and swollen, how do you treat it? Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen or naproxen reduce the pain and inflammation associated with trigger fingers. They effectively treat the condition and come with few side effects when taken in small doses, but be careful not to overuse them! Since these medications contain prostaglandins that can cause pregnant women to go into labor prematurely and affect other organs if taken too frequently, it is essential to talk to a doctor before trying them.
Medical vs. Home Treatment
Managing your trigger finger may seem like an easy task; however, several factors can affect that decision. It's essential to weigh your options with the help of a professional doctor to determine what's best for you! It can be exhausting, but you will eventually find that treatment with a combination of medical and home remedies is the best option for determining how to move forward after looking at all possibilities. These treatments come with their own set of side effects and other relevant factors you need to consider.
Taking Precautions with Home Remedies for Trigger Finger
Trigger finger home remedies may help treat people with less severe cases. They feature nonsurgical treatment options such as trying specific medication, resting, and applying cold or hot applications and compresses. Always talk with your physician about which course of treatment is best for you, depending on how severe your case of trigger finger is. We hope you can return to your favorite activities as quickly as possible, whatever treatment system you choose.