14 Causes of Trigger Finger

Trigger finger is also known as stenosing tenovaginitis or stenotic tenosynovitis. It is a condition that affects the fingers and can cause difficulty in movement and occasional freezing of the finger in a position, which is referred to as “catching.” Most often it affects the ring finger or thumb, but it can appear in all the fingers and may appear in more than one finger at a time.

In certain cases it may appear in both hands. The main reason for this condition is the tendon becoming too large for the tendon sheath it goes through. This will prevent the proper moving of the finger and causes a clicking sensation. The condition gets its name from the most notable symptom, which is the tendency of the finger to become stuck in a bent position. Trigger finger also causes pain and stiffness around the base of the thumb and finger. Here are 14 possible causes of trigger finger. 

1. Arthritis

The main reason that a person develops trigger finger is because the tendon is not moving correctly in the tendon sheath. Often, this is caused because the sheath or the tendon has become swollen and inflamed. There are many reasons that the tendon or sheath may become inflamed. One of the most common culprits for this is often arthritis. There are several types of arthritis.

One type of arthritis is simply caused by wear and tear. In some cases, arthritis is caused by the immune system attacking itself. No matter what form of arthritis that a person may have, trigger finger may develop. This makes it more difficult to move the fingers and also causes a person to experience even more pain. There are certain medications that can be taken to help reduce the swelling caused by arthritis. These medications can often be purchased over the counter, but if the pain is substantial, your doctor may prescribe something stronger.