Trigger Thumb?

[Raindrop]

For the last month and a half I've been having trouble with my thumb and haven't been able to ride my road bike because it's extremely painful. I finally went to a sports physician who said I have stenosing tenosynovitis or trigger thumb and he suggested I first try to immobilize it and take pain relievers. He said if that didn't work, I should consult an orthopedic physician.

Well, I checked the internet which indicated cortizone shots were helpful for this condition, but I decided to try accupunture first. I've never had accupunture, but a few of my clients (I'm a personal trainer) swear by it.

Has anyone else had this diagnosis and if so, what finally offered relief? Also, has accupunture been successful for any health issues you've had and if so, how many sessions did it take.

I have my first appointment this Thursday. If this doesn't work I'll break down and seek more traditional help, but I really would like this resolved without having to resort to the shots or even worse, surgery (also mentioned as a possibility).

[Pedal Wench]

Oh! Me!

I've had it in both hands, but mostly in the ring fingers and pinkies. Timing came about a month after some serious riding and training. I did the cortizone shots (sorry, but VERY painful) and it helped for quite a while - almost two years, and it's just starting to come back again. Right now, this time, I'm just ignoring it...

Edit: I forgot -- my brother had it too. He opted for surgery and has been free of symptoms for years. He doesn't cycle, though.

[renie]

For the last month and a half I've been having trouble with my thumb and haven't been able to ride my road bike because it's extremely painful. I finally went to a sports physician who said I have stenosing tenosynovitis or trigger thumb and he suggested I first try to immobilize it and take pain relievers. He said if that didn't work, I should consult an orthopedic physician.

Well, I checked the internet which indicated cortizone shots were helpful for this condition, but I decided to try accupunture first. I've never had accupunture, but a few of my clients (I'm a personal trainer) swear by it.

Has anyone else had this diagnosis and if so, what finally offered relief? Also, has accupunture been successful for any health issues you've had and if so, how many sessions did it take.

I have my first appointment this Thursday. If this doesn't work I'll break down and seek more traditional help, but I really would like this resolved without having to resort to the shots or even worse, surgery (also mentioned as a possibility).

Hi, I am a real advocate for accupuncture but in all honesty, some of the issues I went for were not resolved -- however i receive other very valuable benefits - it builds your immune system -- I used to get sinus infections every year and now I am around sick people and never get sick. When I mentioned this to my accup dr. he said a lot of his patients tell him that--it's due to a stronger immune system. After a treatment, I am extremely relaxed and the next day, I feel like someone shot me with double energy! After being terrified to fly for 20 years, accup got me on a plane by myself and it wasn't even a direct flight!

I do have to say that I think I also have trigger finger - thumb aches and I often feel a snapping sensation. I can tell you that when the accup needle goes in that area, it actually seems to make it worse. Sorry, but that is my experience, good and bad. Let us know how it works for you.

[OakLeaf]

Acupuncture was a huge help for me (though not a complete cure) in recovering from tendinitis in both elbows.

The tendinitis was the result of (wait for it) immobilizing my hand on the advice of an orthopedic surgeon, after bruising a tendon and a nerve in a freak home improvement accident So I'm strongly biased against immobilization.

My experience with orthos, in Ohio, Maryland and Florida over 25 years and for several different injuries, is that they don't even want to know you unless they can cut on you. My thought is go with the acupuncture first, and if that doesn't help see a physical therapist. See the ortho only if your insurance requires you to get a MD referral for PT. Many acupuncture physicians will give you home exercises, too.

[Raindrop]

Well, I had the accupunture and it didn't help the thumb, unfortunately, but she also put some needles in to relax me and help with anxiety. I don't know if it was the accupunture, or the fact I'd had to teach a 5:45am Spinning class...but I relaxed right into snoring.

However, I just came back from a medical doctor appointment and they took an x-ray and are sending me for the cortizone shot. Hopefully, that'll do the trick.

[Raindrop]

Just thought I would post that I got the cortizone shot and it took about a week and a half...but it worked! I still have some clicking in the thumb, but no pain and I've been out on my bike again. Yay!

[trickytiger]

I had the same thing- stenosing tenosynovitis, but in my third finger. It was probably caused by a sudden addiction to rock climbing when I started college- I get pretty gung-ho about new sports! I tried the cortisone injection and that helped for about a year, but it returned with a vengeance along with a weakened tendon. This required surgery to fix, and it's now been three years with no real problems beyond a lot of scar tissue. My advice- try to reduce stress on that finger and watch it pretty carefully -you don't want too many cortisone shots!

[Raindrop]

Thanks for the extra information. I'm probably facing surgery eventually, since the tendon is still affecting the movement of my thumb. However, I'm hoping to put it off as long as possible. Being self-employed means having pretty crummy insurance with a $2,500 deductible...so I'm hoping to do it in a year that I've actually met my deductible.(gotta love healthcare)