Question
good morning, jenny

i think i may have a stuck tendon. i see a dr august 11 to confirm. my middle finger sticks down when i bend it and is very stiff from halfway down to the palm. is a shot the only way to go or is there other treatments? heat, wax therapy, etc? please help. thanks in advance for your help

carol kellams

Answer
Hi Carol,

There are several options that I am aware of for treatment of this type of problem.  Injecting an anti-inflammatory is one of them; also, hand therapy is sometimes prescribed for massage, wax, fluidotherapy and exercises and sometimes even for a little splint to wear when sleeping.  My grandmother has a 'trigger finger' and she went to see an occupational therapist and received the above treatment.  She also had a shot beforehand and in her case, that helped significantly.  

There is also a surgical option, where they go in and "release" the tendon where it is getting stuck.  My understanding is that they do this if it is a very severe problem where your function is very limited.  Surgery is usually followed by therapy to regain strength and flexibility.

I hope this has helped!  Take care,

Jenny