Many joints of the body can get “caught” in a position whereby mobility is temporarily disabled and discomfort is great. What is happening is the tendons that bend these joints become swollen with inflammation and cannot glide properly and cause the joints to get caught in a triggered position.
Most common is “trigger finger”, also known as stenosing tenosynovitis or flexor tendonitis. Trigger finger is a condition where a finger gets “caught” in a bent position. Many times, the finger can be straightened back out with a quick snap, similar to pulling and releasing the trigger on a gun, hence the name trigger finger. Sometimes, it is not so easy to bend it back and it remains bent. Both situations should be assessed by an orthopaedic specialist.
Causes of trigger finger can include repetitive motion, hypothyroidism, arthritis, diabetes, and infection. Interestingly, trigger finger is more common in females than males.
Catches or tigger points in the shoulders, hips and knees are usually caused by injury and sometimes arthritis. Athletes, especially joggers, can incur caught knees and hips due to overuse, but with rest the condition many times goes away on its own and sometimes never to return. Catches in the shoulder are usually more serious. It is many times due to overuse and will not get better without the help of an orthopedic surgeon.
Trigger finger and catches in the hips, knees and shoulders should be evaluated by an orthopedic surgeon for seriousness and proper diagnosis and treatment. Treatments for most of these conditions are pretty conservative and may not always require surgery. Your orthopedic specialists will make your best recommendation for treatment.
If you are suffering from trigger finger, shoulder, hips or knees, call the orthopeadic surgeons at Ortho El Paso for a consultation at 915-249-4000 or schedule at www.orthoep.com.
