Hi, thank you for your question. Trigger finger is the inflammation of the space within the sheath surrounding the tendon. As a result, the affected finger gets stucked in a bent position and cannot be straightened on its own. It can cause thickening, scarring and formation of nodules in the long run.

Steroids are man-made drugs that are used to treat a lot of inflammatory conditions. Inflammation is a process in which your body releases white blood cells and other chemical substances, in order to protect your body against infection and foreign organisms like bacteria and viruses.

Symptoms of inflammation include redness, swelling, warmth, pain and stiffness. Steroids reduce production of inflammatory chemicals and activity of the immune system. It will provide significant pain relief and allow movement of the affected finger.

Choice of treatment for trigger finger depends on the severity of your condition. Other treatments available include medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) which may help to relieve pain but not the swelling. You are also advised to rest and avoid activities requiring repetitive grasping or gripping, use a splint to keep the finger in an extended position and prevent movements, do stretching exercises to maintain the mobility of the affected finger.

Another treatment method is percutaneous release which involves insertion of needle into the tissue around the tendon under local anaesthesia and ultraound control. It will open the sheath surrounding the tendon without causing harm to the tendon and surrounding nerves. Surgery which involves making a small cut at the base of the affected finger and releasing the narrow section of the sheath is needed if other treatments do not work.

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