Trigger Finger Injection Therapy
Specialist assessment and corticosteroid injection therapy in our Fareham and Gosport clinics
for painful catching, clicking or locking of a finger or thumb.
What Is Trigger Finger?
Trigger finger affects the flexor tendon that bends the finger or thumb. The tendon normally glides through a tissue tunnel called a tendon sheath and beneath a pulley at the base of the finger.
When the tendon or surrounding sheath becomes thickened or irritated, movement can become less smooth. This may cause pain, stiffness, clicking, catching or locking as the finger bends and straightens.
Symptoms are often worse first thing in the morning or after periods of inactivity, and some people find they need to use the other hand to straighten the affected finger.
Trigger finger affecting the thumb is commonly called trigger thumb.
When Can an Injection Help?
Corticosteroid injection can be helpful when pain, catching or locking is interfering with everyday hand use, work, sleep, hobbies or personal care.
It may also be useful when symptoms are becoming more persistent or the finger is increasingly difficult to straighten.
Your specialist will assess how the finger is moving, how much the symptoms are affecting you and what you would like to get back to before discussing whether an injection is a suitable option.
How Does a Trigger Finger Injection Work?
A small amount of corticosteroid is placed around the affected flexor tendon within the tendon-sheath region near the A1 pulley. It is not intended to be injected directly into the tendon.
The medicine aims to reduce swelling and irritation, allowing the tendon to glide more freely. Improvement may occur gradually over several days or weeks.
Some people experience a marked improvement in pain and locking, while for others the change is more gradual or more modest.
Learn About Corticosteroid Injections→
Is Corticosteroid the Only Treatment?
Treatment depends on how long the symptoms have been present, how much the finger is catching or locking and how significantly it is affecting hand function.
Milder symptoms may respond to activity modification, pain relief or splinting. Corticosteroid injection can be considered when symptoms remain troublesome or are limiting everyday use of the hand.
If symptoms remain significantly limiting despite appropriate treatment, your specialist can also advise whether a hand-surgery opinion may be helpful.
Trigger Finger and Diabetes
Trigger finger is more common in people with diabetes and may affect more than one finger. The response to corticosteroid injection can vary, and corticosteroid can temporarily increase blood-glucose levels.
If you have diabetes, your current diabetic control and medication will be discussed before treatment, and you may be advised to monitor your blood glucose more closely afterwards.
Specialist Hand Injections in Fareham and Gosport
Assessment and injection therapy for trigger finger are provided at our Fareham and Gosport clinics by Mike Gillingham, Upper Limb Specialist Physiotherapist.
Mike will assess whether your symptoms are consistent with trigger finger and discuss whether corticosteroid injection, splinting, rehabilitation or onward referral would be the most useful next step.
Explore Our Fareham Upper Limb Injection Clinic → Explore Our Gosport Upper Limb Injection Clinic →
Frequently Asked Questions About Trigger Finger
Is Trigger Finger the Same as Arthritis?
Can Trigger Finger Improve Without an Injection?
Where Is the Injection Given?
How Quickly Might the Injection Work?
When Might the Catching or Locking Improve?
Can the Injection Be Repeated?
Not Sure Whether an Injection Is Right for You?
You do not need to know whether corticosteroid is the correct treatment before contacting us.
Tell us which finger or thumb is affected, how the symptoms are interfering with your hand use and what you would like help with. Your enquiry will be reviewed by our upper-limb specialist, Mike Gillingham, who can advise you on the most appropriate next step.
