Post-surgery Trigger Finger, And Shooting Pain On The Thumb Side Of The Wrist

by Happi
(elk river, mn)

Hi Joshua.


I have osteoarthritis in both hands. I have also had surgery on both thumbs for trigger finger.

The problem is my wrist and thumb.

If I move my wrist a certain way or move my thumb up I get a sharp shooting pain on the thumb side of my wrist.

Is this Tendinitis? What can I do? I have had this for more than two months.

Will it go away by itself?

I can't afford to go to the doctor. Please help me.

Thank you
Happi (Happi is not Happi)

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Joshua Answers:

Hello Happi.

I'm happy to help as I can.

So it sounds like there's A LOT going on in your hands.

Will it go away all on it's own? Not likely. It sounds like this pain is just a continuation of the process that has been evolving in your hands.

Is it Tendinitis? Maybe.

At this point, however, it's something of a moot point.

We need to reverse the dynamic, get most of the pain out, and then it will be easier to identify what if any actual damage is in there.

The surgery very well may have helped the trigger finger, but it made the nervous system kick in more defensive measures, which unfortunately lead to more tightness and more pain.

Even if you have painful repercussion from the surgery, we can get everything much better. It will take
some time and effort, but it's totally doable.

First things first.

Answer these questions so I have an even better idea what's going on, and then let's start getting you out of pain.

1. How long have you been having hand pain?

2. How old are you?

3. What do/did you do with your hands that led to something like trigger finger?

4. Do you have any other health issues? Or, how would you describe your health in general.

5. What movements cause your wrist to hurt?

6. What exact movement causes your thumb side to hurt?

7. Do other movements cause pain?

8. Do you have pain when your hands are at rest/not moving?

9. Describe your osteoarthritis.




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Please reply using the comment link below. Do not submit a new submission to answer/reply, it's too hard for me to find where it's supposed to go.

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Joshua Tucker, B.A., C.M.T.
The Tendonitis Expert
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Comments for Post-surgery Trigger Finger, And Shooting Pain On The Thumb Side Of The Wrist

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May 04, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		PART 2 -- Post-surgery Trigger Finger, And Shooting Pain On The Thumb Side Of The Wrist
by: Happi

Hi Joshua, Thank you for responding so fast. Here are the answers to your questions...


1. How long have you been having hand pain?

I started having swelling and tightness in the hands in 2005. I had the surgery for trigger finger in the left thumb in 2006. I had the same surgery in the right thumb in 2007.



2. How old are you?

52


3. What do/did you do with your hands that led to something like trigger finger?

I don't know? I work with fast food so I use my hands a lot. That is all I can think of.



4. Do you have any other health issues? Or, how would you describe your health in general.

The only history of illness in the family is my grandmother died of Alzheimers Disease. I'm the only one with Arthritis.

My hands hurt most of the time. I have to take medication four times a day. My hands get so swollen and tight I can't make a fist. I have to take the medication before picking up the coffee pot in the morning.



5. What movements cause your wrist to hurt?

It's only the left wrist that I get the shooting pain. If I use the left hand to pick up a glass, button the button on a shirt, tie my shoe, just little things where the thumb comes out and it causes a shooting pain in the wrist.



6. What exact movement causes your thumb side to hurt?

Moving the thumb away from the hand or twist the wrist like when you tuck your shirt into your pants. If I use that hand I get the shooting pain.



7. Do other movements cause pain?

Those are the kind of movements that cause the shooting pain.



8. Do you have pain when your hands are at rest/not moving?

Yes they hurt and that is why I take the medication four times a day. Sometimes it wakes me up at night. These are not shooting pains in the fingers!



9. Describe your osteoarthritis.

I only have the arthritis in my hands. I've been tested and don't have RA. I like working, but I don't know how much longer I can deal with the pain. I had to quit one of my jobs because of it.


I first notice the swelling and tightness in 2005.

Thank you
Happi

May 06, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		PART 3 -- Post-surgery Trigger Finger, And Shooting Pain On The Thumb Side Of The Wrist
by: Happi

Hi Joshua,

I've had the swelling and tightness in the joints of my hands since 2005. Surgery for trigger finger for the left thumb was in 2006. Same surgery for the right thumb was in 2007.

The only thing I can think of that led to trigger finger is I use my hands a lot. My job is fast food.

As far as other health issues besides my hands my knees bother me a little if I go up or down stairs.

I get the shooting pain ONLY on the left wrist and ONLY on the thumb side of that wrist.

As far as movement I get shooting pain from slight movement like buttoning a button, tieing a shoe string, picking up a glass, Anything where the thumb has to move out.

I have Osteoarthritis. I mentioned since 2005. Now they hurt most of the time. I take medication four times a day. It helps some. Some days are better than others.

I also feel a numbness once in a while in my hands mostly wakes me up. Only in my hands.

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Joshua Answers:

Thanks Happi.

Let me think about this today and tomorrow, and I'll do a response then once I see the best avenues for you.


Joshua

Feb 15, 2011
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Post Surgery Pain in 2 fingers
by: Anonymous

Hi,

I had a surgery 2 months ago on 2 fingers.

I still have a lot of pain and swelling on the 2 fingers. In mornings my fingers are very swollen too.

I don't know what to do.

sk


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Joshua Comments:

Hi SK.

Ice Dip as described on the How To Reduce Inflammation page.

Make sure to read and understand the Trigger Finger page.

Supplement with B6, as deficiency of it (among other nutrients) widely points to the development of trigger finger.
Aug 17, 2014
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Corticosteroid injections and surgery for trigger finger on both hands pain still there and worse and doctor wants more surgery
by: Pam

Hi Josh.

Thanks...ok here goes....I had 2 cortisone shots in my left hand for middle finger trigger finger......then I switched to Kaiser...my right middle finger started acting up...callled my new doctor...she gave me a shot but her shot was not injected like the other 2 I had received...she just put the needle in and pushed the shot thru...

The other 2 shots were painful due to the fact that the needle was moved around and targeted different areas....her shot did not last and she referred me to ortho...so Josh that's kind of the start....ortho gave me trigger finger surgery on my right middle finger on March 26, 2014 during the release procedure I talked to the ortho Dr. about doing my left also...he said ok...checked it out after the right finger was done and told me he would have his office call to make the appt....

They called and when the stitches came out of the right hand on 4--10-2014 the left middle finger was done...both hands were done in his office...the right hand however during procedure felt like a balloon ready to pop and I did not get feeling back for over 3 days...the left hand did not feel like a balloon and had feelings the next day...I returned to work the beginning of May and mid June could not take the pain anymore and called ortho back...he told me I needed PT...

After 5 visits to PT, Carpel Tunnel testing in which case I have mild in the left and moderate in the right...also now my right ring finger is sticking and both arms from the shoulders down tingle all day long and hurt...I have no grip with either hands I am always dropping things...PT sent me back to ortho for what he stated as intevention for the hand wrist and elbow.....

I went to ortho...we discussed surgery for CT and Trigger finger on my right hand and shots for my left CT...he also said surgery might not help due to the stiffness and pain I am still having...both hands and arms...right worse than the left....he also stated he wanted to put me back to work but with limited abilities...no gripping, grasping and after a argument from me he also included typing...that's what I do all day is 10 key and type....said I should have healed by now...everyone else does and he cant figure out why I am not....

Well needless to say I am now going to see a hand specialist...ortho ordered...but it is his associate doctor he works with.....I guess my question to you is why do you think I am numb and tingling in both ams...no grip and still in lots of pain...

Thanks Pam


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Joshua Comments:


Ah....yes...the classic "You should have healed by now....(but I have NO idea why you haven't)..so...uhhh....let's do some more surgery. Yeah, let's do that, since it worked so well the first time it will SURELY do the trick next time."


Unfortunately, chances are, the hand specialist isn't going to do anything other than suggest physical therapy, corticosteroid shots (hopefully not since you've already had several of those), and surgery. And/or pain killers.


You asked "I guess my question to you is why do you think I am numb and tingling in both arms...no grip and still in lots of pain..."

1. Becasue surgery didn't fix the causes of the trigger finger/carpal tunnel.

2. Because the surgery likely made the original causes worse.

3. Because you're likely nutritionally insufficient/deficient and the surgery, long story short, sent you further down the road of increased insufficiency.

4. Because the body doesn't respond well to trauma, like getting cut on with sharp tissue damaging objects.

5. Because the body won't let muscles fire past a certain point if the body thinks that that will cause further damage.

6. Tingling probably because muscles and connectivie tissue are compressing nerve somewhere along the line.


Read the other responses in the thread. Start ice dipping like crazy.

Ice Dip as described on the How To Reduce Inflammation page.

Make sure to read and understand the Trigger Finger page.




See Related: Post Surgery Trigger Finger And Shooting Pain On The Thumb Side Of The Wrist

See Related: A Classical Guitarist With DeQuervains And Trigger Finger Pain Relief And Playing Again

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