Marius Hancu, please comment on this condition!!

[devilish_duke]

Hi,

This is for anyone with experience with medical conditions; I asked for Marius because I've gotten so much info from his previous posts already.

Trigger finger, how do I get rid of it completely without giving up tennis for the rest of my life? I had a previous post where another member (scotus) advised rest (meaning weeks off from tennis). As I am seeing a physical therapist and a sports medicine doctor for my ankle, I brought up the topic and they both prescribed rest as well as finger stretching, buying Nike swoosh finger sleeves, and strengthening the extensor muscles. In the two days since I started taking off from tennis, my index and middle fingers have shown dramatic improvement; I think I'm trigger finger free there. My ring finger is a little weaker but is following the same path as the first two fingers. My pinky however, weak as it is and used to anchor my grip on the racquet, still pops when extended and locks up sometimes. It's definitely better but improving at a slower rate. I'm taking 3 weeks off from tennis and have set up hitting sessions to re-learn the mechanics when I return, but I was wondering if with all the rest and proper form that trigger finger will bother me again? Will it flare up as soon as I return to the court or will it depend on my form and grip? Is there any other therapy (without cortisone or surgery) to improve my condition rapidly? I welcome all proper advice, thanks.

[Marius_Hancu]

first time I hear about this condition.

you and others might read these:
http://www.eatonhand.com/hw/hw022.htm
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/fact/thr_report.cfm?Thread_ID=168&topcategory=Hand
http://www.handsurgeon.com/trigger.html

try to follow the advice there, including rest.

I'd say you'd have to work on flexibility and power with small weights gradually, when your doc allows it. No tennis until you have a really strong forearm and fingers.

what is your line of work? are you using a lot your fingers/palms?

[Marius_Hancu]

Will it flare up as soon as I return to the court or will it depend on my form and grip? Is there any other therapy (without cortisone or surgery) to improve my condition rapidly? I welcome all proper advice, thanks.

No one can tell you this. However, in order to avoid this, as I told you, your arm and fingers must get stronger than before.

Exercises with surgical tubing, light weights, rings to be compressed in your palm/fingers, would help.

[devilish_duke]

Thanks for your help thus far. I don't really do a lot of finger work, I mean, I use a computer at my internship (rising senior in college) but not an excessive amount. I was thinking this may be linked more to my tennis. I know I have a tight grip and I used to play 3 or 4 times a week for 3 hours each time.

[Marius_Hancu]

Thanks for your help thus far. I don't really do a lot of finger work, I mean, I use a computer at my internship (rising senior in college) but not an excessive amount. I was thinking this may be linked more to my tennis. I know I have a tight grip and I used to play 3 or 4 times a week for 3 hours each time.

did this appear during tennis? if so, it might be well related to that, but you always need to contend with all factors which could contribute.

also tight grips and exagerated court time could contribute, esp if you forearm and palm muscles are not developed enough to absorb the shocks.

were both hands affected? only the right one?
you might want to switch your PC mouse to your left hand.

[devilish_duke]

It never appears during tennis, mainly because I'm probably too involved to notice and don't shift my hands that much anyway. I notice it at times during the day when my hand has been still for some time. I've been wearing nike swoosh finger sleeves lately so it's mostly in a relaxed/extended position throughout the day. Only the right hand (dominant) was affected but I'm not too surprised because I rarely use my left hand in tennis except for those times when I need a 2 handed backhand (usually use 1 handed). I suppose I could switch my mouse hand to the left. My index finger doesnt' seem to be bothering me anymore though. I'm just hoping that the condition will die down and my tendon inflammation will go away in 3 weeks (hopefully) or maybe 4 and I can get on with tennis using correct grips. My pinky finger is def the most troublesome right now.

[Noelle]

Hey duke. :) As a fellow trigger finger sufferer, I feel your pain (and stiffness :D ). The trigger finger symptoms don't affect you while you're playing tennis because of the increased blood flow during physical exertion.

For the benefit of other readers of this thread, here are the earlier threads and some pertinent information.

Fingers curling up after good sleep:
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=25647&highlight=trigger+finger

Popping finger joints? Horrible sign?
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=61438
By the way, mornings are the most difficult times for any tendon inflammation. You will notice that as your body warms and blood flows, you will not have a problem moving your fingers. And while you are playing tennis, your fingers will feel fine. But don't be fooled into believing that bending (i.e. flexing) your fingers a lot and playing tennis is actually good for your fingers. It's exactly when you use your finger flexors a lot that you keep scratching the tendon against the sheath around it, and you pay the consequences next morning.
Keyboard use falls under the category of "using finger flexors." :(

[devilish_duke]

Hey Noelle, good to see you again. Hope your fingers are getting better. I actually don't type in the traditional sense.... I wear my finger sleaves and poke at the keys... and i use my left hand more.

[Marius_Hancu]

Hey duke. :) As a fellow trigger finger sufferer ...

Keyboard use falls under the category of "using finger flexors." :(

thus I would strongly suggest you sit less at your computer ...

[kaztennis]

first time I hear about this condition.

you and others might read these:
http://www.eatonhand.com/hw/hw022.htm
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/fact/thr_report.cfm?Thread_ID=168&topcategory=Hand
http://www.handsurgeon.com/trigger.html

try to follow the advice there, including rest.

I'd say you'd have to work on flexibility and power with small weights gradually, when your doc allows it. No tennis until you have a really strong forearm and fingers.

what is your line of work? are you using a lot your fingers/palms?

I think I have a little symptom of the trigger finger! My middle finger's joint closest to the palm hurts a bit when I open and close my hand. It doesn't hurt when I play tennis but seems like it's because of the extra blood flow/circulation when my arms are warmed up. It tends to lock a bit in the morning when I wake up...

I'll rest my hand!

[kaztennis]

first time I hear about this condition.

you and others might read these:
http://www.eatonhand.com/hw/hw022.htm
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/fact/thr_report.cfm?Thread_ID=168&topcategory=Hand
http://www.handsurgeon.com/trigger.html

try to follow the advice there, including rest.

I'd say you'd have to work on flexibility and power with small weights gradually, when your doc allows it. No tennis until you have a really strong forearm and fingers.

what is your line of work? are you using a lot your fingers/palms?

I think I have a little symptom of the trigger finger! My middle finger's joint closest to the palm hurts a bit when I open and close my hand. It doesn't hurt when I play tennis but seems like it's because of the extra blood flow/circulation when my arms are warmed up. It tends to lock a bit in the morning when I wake up...

I'll rest my hand! Thanks for the great info!