A trigger finger is a condition which occurs when the affected finger has a restraint in straightening. The finger stays bent at the beginning of straightening and then suddenly straightens with a flipping movement. The movements are like pulling and releasing a trigger. Anti-inflammatory drugs are frequently used to treat the condition. A surgery will be necessary if the treatment does not work.
A trigger finger results from an inflammation happening in the sheath surrounding the tendon ant the tendon of a finger itself. The inflammation will cause the affected finger to be stuck in a position because the tendon is unable to pass through its sheath (the annular ligament mostly builds the obstacle). This causes the finger to stay in its bent position until the pulling force is strong enough to tug the tendon through the obstacle. Thereby results the typically flipping straightening motion.
The cause of a trigger finger is mainly an inflammation. Once an inflammation occurs in the tendon of a finger, it may cause swelling and the related stiffness. As a result, the affected finger will become locked and bent for a while, and then it may suddenly straighten with a snap. The movements are like pulling and releasing a trigger. And a trigger finger often happens to the thumb, middle finger and ring finger but every finger can be affected. If the condition is severe, then the affected finger may even stay in the bent position and be unable to straighten ever again. The risks of getting a trigger finger are related to the working environment, lifestyle and any other diseases. For example, people who need to repeat actions like clicking, gripping and typing during work are more likely to have the problem. Besides, diseases such as arthritis and diabetes can also increase the risk. People with a trigger finger may experience symptoms not only such as a finger stuck like pulling a trigger, but they may also feel nodules, tenderness, stiffness and pain at the affected area.
The treatment of a trigger finger is to reduce the inflammation and swelling. Treatments often include medications like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). NSAIDs can help to relieve the inflammation as well as the pain. If the treatment does not work, a local injection with steroid or a surgery will be necessary. The goal of surgery is to remove the bottleneck (mostly through a cut of the A1 annular ligament) so the tendon is able to slide smoothly again.
Several years of work in academia, medical practice and finally commercialization make it possible to provide an end-to-end process to help users to “find the appropriate medical help based on their present symptoms”. Below you will find a short explanation, showing you which part of the platform will help you best in finding the appropriate medical support.
Proceed as follows to enter your current symptoms.
Click on the appropriate body part on the picture. Select one/multiple symptoms corresponding to your complaint.
You can also add symptoms by typing your medical complaint in the search box and selecting the best matching suggestion.
Note: Your information will be kept anonymously.
Once you have selected all applicable symptoms, click the “analyze disease pattern”-button.
Accordingly, you will get a list of possible diseases and matching doctor categories who can further help you.
You can inform yourself about the possible diseases by reading the related information. But you can also return to the previous step and add more symptoms or delete already added ones to further narrow down your disease pattern.
Click on the desired doctor category to find a doctor who can help you.
If you are logged in with your profile, you will be displayed the appropriate doctors in your area. Otherwise you can enter an address in the “address” field and you will be displayed a doctor’s list around that specified address.
You will receive further information about the displayed doctors when you press on “details”.
Online bookable doctors in your area will be indicated with the notation “Book appointment” or “Book externally”, additionally they will be displayed on top of the list for your convenience.
Click on “Book appointment” to start the online appointment booking process with the desired doctor.
Please select an available appointment. “Green“ appointments are booked directly. “Red“ appointments need to be confirmed by the doctor.
Enter your general personal and health information.
Enter your present medical symptoms.
Enter your mobile phone number to identify yourself and you can finalize the appointment booking.
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