Trigger Treat

[Chillum]

Following some seriously hard endevours in the garden, I've been left with a "sticky" pinky. I think it's "trigger finger". The finger won't immediately straighten, but momentarily sticks. I don't particularly want to go to the doc., as it's not really that bad, just a tad annoying. Anyone know how I should best treat it? bandage/splint or excercise or nothing? Thanks.

[Evely]

You probably overdone it a little in the garden, so you might have temporal symptoms of what is called "Tunnel Syndrom" in German.
It's about a pathway through the "tunnel" between your thumb and your palm, where all the nerves you need to move your fingers go through.
When it's swollen it causes the fingers to get numb. When it's getting smaller due to arthritis the sydrome is getting pathologic and has to be treated, before the nerves are cut off for good.

My mom's thumb was getting so thin in the end, because she couldn't move it. After the "Tunnel" surgery, she had to build up new muscle there.
She had that surgery on her right hand. Her left hand is untreated and she can't make a fist, now.

I don't mean to scare you. I really think you just overworked your poor hand, as I imagine you applied a lot of pressure to your palm during garden work.

Try a warm bath for your hand and bandage your palm. The problem is there, not in your pinkie.

Get better soon!
Good luck :-)

[Evely]

What I tried to explain is called CTS for "carpal tunnel syndrom".
Still, I think you can't get that from garden work. :-)

[Chillum]

Thanks Evely, I have had a lot of pain exactly where you describe, and though it's died down, the pinkie is still catching, it's been like this for 3 weeks now. I'm also sure it was just the gardening, and it'll probably right itself in the end.

[Evely]

3 weeks? Wow. Your garden must have undergone some trumendous changes. I hope you'll soon be able to painlessly hold a cup of tea in your hand and enjoy the new view.
If the pain keeps up, though, you should check in and get an injection that'll help to fight the swelling.
Again, get well soon. :-)