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This week I participated in a "Trigger Finger" themed test conducted by @askhan. Hopefully, the little knowledge I provide here can be useful for those who are experiencing this condition.

What's trigger finger? Write in your own words after getting knowledge from the lesson post.

Trigger finger is a condition where the position of the finger is bent and causes severe pain that radiates to the palm of the hand. The bent finger is usually locked so that it cannot be straightened and causes severe pain. Trigger finger will usually affect mainly the ring finger and the dominant thumb. Trigger finger is commonly experienced by middle-aged women.

Causes

There are several reasons why someone can experience trigger finger, namely:

1. Doing repetitive activities that put pressure on the thumb or other fingers.
2. Grasping an item for a long duration.
3. Having a history of injury to the palm of the hand
4. Having a history of certain diseases such as diabetes, gout and others.

Symptoms

that are often experienced by someone who has trigger fingers are:

1. Pain and irritation in the palm and base of the fingers.
2. The presence of lumps at the pain points of the palm and base of the fingers.
3. Experiencing stiffness in some fingers, especially when you wake up.
4. There is a clicking sound at the base of the finger when you bend and straighten it.

The following symptoms are more serious and can interfere with your daily activities

1. Inflammation at the base of the money finger causes heat.
2. Fever accompanied by stiffness of the finger
3. The finger remains locked even when you use it normally.
4. Severe pain in several fingers which is very disturbing.

Pre-trigger stage
In the pre-trigger stage the patient will feel pain caused by tendon inflammation.

Trigger stage
At this stage the patient will feel a clicking or popping sensation in the finger or thumb, although in this condition the finger can still be stretched.

Locking stage
At the locking stage the patient will experience a locked or stuck finger in a bent state and must manually return it to a straight position. How to return it using the opposite hand. Fingers that have been straightened also cannot be bent.

How would you diagnose a trigger finger? Any clinical investigation or assessment tests?

Some ways to diagnose trigger finger are

Anamnesis

By asking about the condition of the painful finger and those who feel a clicking sensation on certain fingers. Furthermore, asking for a history of certain diseases such as diabetes. As well as asking other factors such as whether the patient often does work that uses special tools and grasps for a long time.

Physical examination

Physical examination is specific to the finger affected by the trigger finger. The diagnosis can also be checked by topical lidocaine injection on the tendon sheath. After the injection, the pain will usually decrease and the finger can be moved actively and passively.

Imagine Test

x-ray test

x-rays will be taken of the affected finger or palm. X-rays are usually required in patients who have a history of inflammatory disease.

USG

Ultrasonografi (USG ) may help establish the diagnosis in patients with atypical clinical presentations.

NCS

An NCS test can also be performed to look at nerve conditions that have signs and symptoms of nerve or muscle damage, as well as abnormal sensations that indicate damage.

Specialized tests

• Flick Test
  test is a patient history finding rather than a specialized test. It is basically used to find out if the patient flicks the affected hand to relieve symptoms such as pain. Shaking the hand and wrist can reduce the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome for the flick sign to appear or be positive.

• Notta Test
  This test is performed with the affected finger then pressed on the side of the palm then will be asked to bend and stretch the finger.

• Trigger Test
  This test is performed by clenching the fist and opening the thumb. After that we can see the position of the bent finger and straighten it manually using the hand.

• Tinel Test (modified)
  To perform the tinel test, the patient is seated with the forearm resting comfortably on the treatment bench. Then use two fingers to tap the media nerve at the wrist. The test is considered positive if there is tingling in the thumb, and other fingers.

• Phalen test (modified)
  To perform this test, one is asked to flex both wrists while pressing the dorsal sides of both hands against each other and holding it for one minute.

Try to practice at least 3 exercises that you have learned from the lesson. Share images, gifs or videos while practicing preferably gifs or videos.

Finger stretching with band
In this finger stretching exercise, a rubber band is used as a tool. How to do it is by attaching a rubber band to the tip of the hand that is locked and then opened slowly and repeated 5 times.

https://youtube.com/shorts/i1znMhDFhCk?si=KRzdGo_jJI1C64Ry

Trigger finger starches
This stretch is done by opening the fingers of the fingers and then the little finger is closed slowly for 5 to 10 seconds using the help of the other hand. Before stretching it is good to use a warm compress.

https://youtube.com/shorts/DvQIcoiNFw0?si=6sRIGv3-s7CUByIx

Tendon Glides
Gliding tendon stretches are performed the same as stretching with a rubber band but this stretch does not use rubber assistance. It's just that the position of the hands that are locked and opened is the same as the movement in the previous stretch.

https://youtube.com/shorts/-ApuUqhyP2M?si=mbb6MJaVRfQ-LGlv

Message finger joints
In finger joint massage as the name suggests this movement is done by opening the hand and massaging the joints of the finger joints in a circular motion using the help of the other hand.

https://youtube.com/shorts/i26Y1vJ-D70?si=zj5wLMxrgztxPWUU

Share your review after performing these exercises either on yourself, healthy individual or patient.

Initially when doing this test I had a little trouble stretching using a rubber band. For some reason the rubber always slipped out of my hand. Therefore, look for a slightly tight rubber band to avoid this. In addition, doing other stretches was quite difficult at first because I had never done this before.

Before that I often felt stiff hands. But after trying the above movements I am very happy because the condition of the hands feels lighter and not stiff. This stretch is very helpful not only for those who experience trigger fingers but also for those who often work more using their fingers such as typing and so on.

I will invite some of my friends to join this amazing contest @miftahulrizky @ravikadevy @dwiearisandi

Best regards,
@fadia