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Trigger finger post injection

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Posted 8/30/2014 6:40 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all! I had a cortisone shot 3 days ago for my little finger. Have had trigger finger for 3 years which has been deteriorating for the past 5 months. He gave me the options and said initially he would try the injection. He said to leave it a week and then if no better to go back and they would do surgery. However firstly, am I rushing things going back after a week if it is not better? Secondly, I have had to wait some time for the appointment and what with holidays during Sept and Nov I need to plan these things a little. At the moment my finger was not as stiff on night 2 but last night was almost back to where I was before the injection. I do not have the pain I had before, apart from the injection site of course. What are peoples experience post injection, and how long normally should it be afterwards before I should look at going back please? Atm it is very uncomfortable in my finger and is not at all comfortable when bending it.
Posted 8/30/2014 11:35 AM (GMT 0)
In the past when I have had steroid shots, albeit for a different problem (rotator cuff), it actually lasted a good 6 weeks as far as pain relief.
Posted 8/30/2014 1:32 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the forum, trigger2.

It seems insurances require docs to try injections and OT before going to surgery. In my experience injections hurt a lot and don't work, and neither does therapy.

You may have waited too long already. From what I've read, you have to treat early or surgery won't work as well. I would suggest doing a bit of research. There are a lot of threads - see the search box at the top of the page.

The surgery is simple. A couple of snips. I had 3 done at once and it took 15 minutes for all, from local anesthetic to wrap-up. It takes a bit of therapy to get the motion back, starting when the 2 stitches come out.
Posted 8/30/2014 3:42 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your replies. Is a week too soon to go back though? I am surprised the surgeon said leave it a week and see what happens. During the day I am OK, it is nights and mornings when it plays up.
Posted 8/30/2014 5:31 PM (GMT 0)
You should know within a couple of days if a cortisone shot is going to work. The doc said wait a week, and that's about all I would wait. I'll bet he says to go for the surgery. It's time to stop suffering.

Trigger finger surgery is no big deal. You don't get knocked out, don't even need an IV. He just puts a tight band on your arm, there's one shot of local anesthetic that hurts a few moments until it numbs everything; he makes a couple of quick snips and it's done. A couple of stitches later, you get wrapped up, and home you go.

It will start hurting in the middle of the night, so have the pain med handy. You WILL need it. It will only hurt for a couple or three days or so. You'll start to wiggle the finger as directed. The stitches will come out and you'll be given some exercises to do.
Posted 8/30/2014 7:18 PM (GMT 0)
I have had both thumbs operated on . My orthopedic surgeon said shots are usless. get the surgery
Posted 8/31/2014 5:23 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you both so much, I agree totally. I will call them tomorrow. He did say surgery was the next step. You have put my mind at rest. It was back to normal again last night. The first ight may have been better, although that may of been me psyching myself up for it to be better!!! Can this also spread from my little finger joint to the index, middle and ring finger too? Except in those fingers they seem to be stiff in the morning and it is in the joint just below the nail not the main finger joint (sorry don't know the name of it).
Posted 8/31/2014 8:51 AM (GMT 0)
I suppose it can happen in other fingers , but mine has not ..
Posted 9/2/2014 4:56 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Trigger2.
I received treatment at the Orthopedic Center for the Rockies. My doctor said 50% of the people are helped with the first shot. 50% of the remaining people are helped with a 2nd shot. The remaining people are helped with surgery. My doctor scheduled my cortisone shots one month apart. I was told the fingers had to heal for 5 weeks after the last cortisone shot before surgery could be done.

After each cortisone shot, my fingers felt better - like the clock rolling back to when I first began experiencing trigger finger. The improvement for me wasn't permanent and the catching was always present. I am scheduled for surgery on both hands Sept. 23rd. The comments from others in this forum as well as research I've found seem positive. I'm hoping I'm in the middle of the successful pack with the outcome of my surgery and not in the dangling upper quartile again.
Posted 9/2/2014 9:12 AM (GMT 0)
Oh good luck with that then. I had mine last Wednesday and the pain is better, not that the pain has been too much of an issue for me. However the stiffness during the night and first thing in the morning is the issue. During the day it is pretty much OK. So I'd say the injection has probably helped by 5-10 % but nothing like I need to get back to normal.
Posted 9/3/2014 5:42 AM (GMT 0)
Trigger2,
Sounds like our experience with trigger finger is similar. I will let you know how it works out. I wasn't concerned about having both hands done until I read some of these posts.. I work out regularly and it sounds like I won't be able to do much with my hands for awhile. I wonder how long that will be.
Posted 9/7/2014 7:17 AM (GMT 0)
Well since my last post i have waited ages just for his secretary to get back to me concerning another appointment. Since then I have noticed more improvement after the injection. OK not great, but much much better. I am not sure whether he will consider a second injection and see if that manages to cure it? Medical secretaries are the bain of my life. I have worked with them, and spoken to a fair few of them on the phone over the years, and most seem to be nothing but rude control freaks. They seem to think they have this hold over you and your appointment, when actually they hold little power and would do well to realise that they are not the medical professional in thsi matter! I am in a country where the language is a challenge too, so is made even more the worse!
Posted 9/26/2014 2:49 AM (GMT 0)
Promised to post after surgery 9/23/14. Surgery went well - both hands - total time 50 minutes. I was anxious so I chose a light sedation to relax. I took pain medication the night of the surgery, but none since. Today is the 2nd day after surgery. The swelling in one hand is gone and only slight in the other. I can use all of my fingers, but the two fingers that were operated on are tender under pressure (ie. pushing or holding weight) and when making a fist. No trouble driving today. Bandages come off tomorrow, stitches out next week. I resumed my workout schedule minus the few exercises that required gripping. I'm excited about the results so far.
Posted 9/26/2014 6:03 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Trigger 2,
I have had both thumbs operated on (at different times) for triggering, and two days ago had the index finger of my right hand done. I tried the cortisone shots and they didn't work. My doc also said you should feel relief within a day or two, and if none within a week, consider surgery.

I'm able to type today, though my hand is still wrapped and my finger a bit swollen. I'm taking everyone's advice and am stretching out my finger to hopefully prevent scar tissue. Feel only dull pain today.

A word to pain-sensitive folks: Pain has always hurt me more than it does most folks. (Research now suggests sensitivity is an inheritable trait, and I believe it.) My prior hand surgeries were done with general anesthesia, but my Wed. surgery was done as an out-patient. I had no idea the pain the shots would give me, nor the fear I was gripped by as the surgery took place. I sobbed my way through the surgery, trying my best to be a good patient, but it was quite awful for me. Don't want to scare anyone, because most people seem to have inherited more protective genes, but for me, it would have been helpful to have been given some prior knowledge of the pain involved - and some dreamy meds.
Posted 10/8/2014 3:29 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Trigger 2,
This will be my last post unless you have questions. Between the surgery and getting the stitches out on Day 10, I was diligent about stretching my fingers fully and trying to make a fist. At first I could only lay a hand on a flat surface and gently push the fingers flat, very gently. I found ice packs helped quite a bit and kept a couple in my car to use while I was driving. With the stitches out, my doctor wanted me to start bending my fingers backward as well as massaging the incision site. I continue to use ice packs periodically and I purchased thera-putty in 2 oz. quantities ranging from very soft to the more difficult. The softest one is plenty right now. My fingers are stiff in the morning, but begin to limber up with massage and use. I check back with my surgeon in 4 weeks to make sure the swelling is gone and to make sure I have full movement. I don't expect everything to be back to normal in a month, but I believe with continued care they will get better and better.
Best of luck.
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