(Stenosing Tenosynovitis)
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Trigger finger is a "snapping" condition of any of the digits of the hand when opened or closed.
Trigger finger is medically termed stenosing tenosynovitis.
Symptoms of trigger finger develop when either the ring, middle, or index finger attempts to flex
closed while gripping. Instead of a smooth, continual closure, the digit stutters, then snaps
closed. The closure is frequently associated with pain at the base of the digit on the palm of the
hand. Trigger finger can affect the thumb.
Stretching, ice, and anti-inflammation treatments can be helpful. Medications that have been
used include naproxen, ibuprofen, diclofenac, and others.
The most rapidly effective treatment is a local cortisone injection around the affected tendon.
Most patients will respond to the cortisone injection. When a trigger finger persists after two
injections and is not responsive to the above treatments, surgical procedures to ultimately
remove the inflamed or scarred tissue are considered.
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* Are there special advantages in using cortisone injections for joint inflammation (arthritis)?
* Are there special side effects that can occur with cortisone joint injections?
* "I've always heard that cortisone injections are painful? Are they?"
Viewer Comments
"I had pain in my left knee that ached all the time. The doctor diagnosed me with a meniscal
tear. I opted to try the Celestone shot first before having surgery. It was the best decision for me.
I was pain free for over two years and have just begun to experience a little return of pain. My
right knee was bothering me recently more so than my left, but I asked the doctor if I could try
the shot again and I got the shots in both knees today. It has been a couple of hours and I feel
slightly better already. I can't wait for the full effect to set in."
side effects, lumbar epidural, joint, back pain, tennis elbow, Depo-Medrol, inflammation, MRI,
arthritis, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, SI joint, trigger finger, skin rash
Patient Discussions are not a substitute for professional medical advice, or treatment.
Corticosteroids are a class of medications that are related to cortisone. Medications of this class
reduce inflammation powerfully. They are used to reduce inflammation caused by a variety of
diseases. Cortisone is one type of corticosteroid. For the purpose of this review, "cortisone" is
used interchangeably with "corticosteroid."
Corticosteroids can be taken by mouth, inhaled, applied to the skin, given intravenously (into a
vein), or injected into the tissues of the body. Examples of corticosteroids include prednisone
and prednisolone (given by mouth), Solu-Medrol (given intravenously), as well as triamcinolone,
Kenalog, Celestone, Depo-Medrol, and others (given by injection into body tissues). This article
describes the role of cortisone injections into the soft tissues and joints.
Corticosteroids are not pain relievers. They reduce inflammation. When corticosteroids relieve
pain, it is because they have reduced inflammation.
While the inflammation for which corticosteroids are given can recur, corticosteroid injections
can provide months to years of relief when used properly. These injections also can cure diseases
(permanently resolve them) when the problem is tissue inflammation localized to a small area,
such as bursitis and tendonitis.
Cortisone injections can be used to treat the inflammation of small areas of the body (local
injections), or they can be used to treat inflammation that is widespread throughout the body
(systemic injections). Examples of conditions for which local cortisone injections are used include
inflammation of a bursa (bursitis), a tendon (tendonitis), and a joint (arthritis). Knee arthritis, hip
bursitis, painful foot conditions such as plantar fasciitis, rotator cuff tendinitis and many other
conditions may be treated with cortisone injections. Epidural injections in the lumbar spine are
cortisone injections inserted into a specific location in the spinal canal by a specialist under X-ray
guidance (fluoroscopy). Systemic corticosteroid injections are used for conditions affecting many
joints, such as allergic reactions, asthma, and rheumatoid arthritis.
View Slideshows
* Are there special advantages in using cortisone injections for joint inflammation (arthritis)?
* Are there special side effects that can occur with cortisone joint injections?
* "I've always heard that cortisone injections are painful? Are they?"
"I had pain in my left knee that ached all the time. The doctor diagnosed me with a meniscal
tear. I opted to try the Celestone shot first before having surgery. It was the best decision for me.
I was pain free for over two years and have just begun to experience a little return of pain. My
right knee was bothering me recently more so than my left, but I asked the doctor if I could try
the shot again and I got the shots in both knees today. It has been a couple of hours and I feel
slightly better already. I can't wait for the full effect to set in."
side effects, lumbar epidural, joint, back pain, tennis elbow, Depo-Medrol, inflammation, MRI,
arthritis, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, SI joint, trigger finger, skin rash
Patient Discussions are not a substitute for professional medical advice, or treatment.
Doctor to Patient
Corticosteroids are a class of medications that are related to cortisone. Medications of this class
reduce inflammation powerfully. They are used to reduce inflammation caused by a variety of
diseases. Cortisone is one type of corticosteroid. For the purpose of this review, "cortisone" is
used interchangeably with "corticosteroid."
Corticosteroids can be taken by mouth, inhaled, applied to the skin, given intravenously (into a
vein), or injected into the tissues of the body. Examples of corticosteroids include prednisone
and prednisolone (given by mouth), Solu-Medrol (given intravenously), as well as triamcinolone,
Kenalog, Celestone, Depo-Medrol, and others (given by injection into body tissues). This article
describes the role of cortisone injections into the soft tissues and joints.
Is a cortisone injection merely a pain reliever or temporary remedy?
Corticosteroids are not pain relievers. They reduce inflammation. When corticosteroids relieve
pain, it is because they have reduced inflammation.
While the inflammation for which corticosteroids are given can recur, corticosteroid injections
can provide months to years of relief when used properly. These injections also can cure diseases
(permanently resolve them) when the problem is tissue inflammation localized to a small area,
such as bursitis and tendonitis.
Cortisone injections can be used to treat the inflammation of small areas of the body (local
injections), or they can be used to treat inflammation that is widespread throughout the body
(systemic injections). Examples of conditions for which local cortisone injections are used include
inflammation of a bursa (bursitis), a tendon (tendonitis), and a joint (arthritis). Knee arthritis, hip
bursitis, painful foot conditions such as plantar fasciitis, rotator cuff tendinitis and many other
conditions may be treated with cortisone injections. Epidural injections in the lumbar spine are
cortisone injections inserted into a specific location in the spinal canal by a specialist under X-ray
guidance (fluoroscopy). Systemic corticosteroid injections are used for conditions affecting many
joints, such as allergic reactions, asthma, and rheumatoid arthritis.