Swollen thumb joint or a hot or inflamed joint, seek medical attention from a family medical doctor immediately as this is a sign of severe infection. Do you wonder why your thumb clicks, cracks, or pops when moving? There could be multiple reasons for that noise while bending thumbs, such as de Quervain’s Tenosynovitis, ulnar collateral ligament injury, etc.
Here we will discuss the common factors of thumb-clicking.
Thumb Trigger as What Is It?
The trigger thumb is medically known as stenosing tenosynovitis. In this disease, tendon sheaths that are a tunnel-like structure for holding the tendon with the bone get inflamed and thickened. As a result, the tendon fails to glide smoothly through the sheath and cannot bend the affected finger. The affected thumb becomes stiff, and people feel a locking sensation when they bend the thumb.
Thumb Trigger Causes
Tendons are made of tissues, and these are attached to the muscles and bones. In the hands, the muscles and the tendons must work together to keep the thumb straight. The tendons generally run through a tunnel that is called a sheath. This sheath helps keep the tendon to stay in place with the finger bones. With a trigger thumb, the tendons start becoming swollen and irritated and cannot slide through the sheaths. The tendon also gets a bump, and it makes the tendon more difficult.
Symptoms of Trigger Thumb
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Popping or snapping sensation
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Soreness at the base
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Pain and stiffness
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Swelling or tender lump
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Finger locking
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The inability to fully flex the finger
Treating Trigger Thumb
The physiotherapy treatment helps in controlling the pain in the trigger thumb, helps in the range of motion, and also breaks down the scar tissues.
It completely depends on the severity of the disease, the condition, and how long you are suffering from the symptoms. Following all these conditions, your family medical doctor will determine your treatment plan.
Here are the treatments –
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Therapeutic ultrasound breaks down the scar tissues and reduces the pain.
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Soft tissue work controls the pain.
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Massage therapy increases blood flow.
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Stretching and exercise improve motion range.
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Tendon gliding exercises reduce pain and improve movement.
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Educating patients is also an important part of treatment.
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Rest and avoid repetitive gripping until the symptoms heal.
Contact pain management for trigger thumb treatment. We can help you with all your requirements.
**Disclaimer: This content should not be considered medical advice and does not imply a doctor-patient relationship.
