Trigger Finger: Patient Education from University of Colorado Hospital

Living with Trigger Finger

As trigger finger worsens, symptoms will progress from stiffness in the finger, to the finger catching and then popping straight. In time, the finger might not straighten entirely.

Trigger finger most commonly affects the thumb or middle or ring finger. However, it can affect any finger. It can affect more than one finger at a time, and can affect both hands. The symptoms generally are worse in the morning while gripping an object or straightening your finger.

As symptoms progress, trigger finger can be painful and can interfere with your ability to perform everyday tasks. In these cases, it is best to seek appropriate medical treatment.

Getting a Second Opinion about Trigger Finger

If you experience stiffness or catching in a finger joint, you should be seen by a doctor with special training in hand surgery. If a finger joint is hot and inflamed, seek immediate medical care. This might be a sign of an infection.

Additional Trigger Finger Resources

American Society for Surgery of the Hand 
Its mission is to advance the science and practice of hand surgery through education, research and advocacy on behalf of patients and practitioners.

American Association for Hand Surgery 
Its mission is to foster and to promote the highest quality of hand care. It does this through the development and sponsorship of educational programs related to the hand and the upper extremity, through communications with health care professionals and the public, and through the endowment of research.