The swelling of the flexor tendons and sheaths is sometimes associated with forceful hand use and commonly occurs in the dominant hand. Tasks in which a person continually grips an object, such as scissors or a screwdriver, can irritate the tendons, and care should be taken to alternate these tasks with others, if possible. Injuries to the palm of the hand can also irritate the flexor tendons. For that reason, repetitive stapling or stamping can lead to trigger finger, and care should be taken when performing these tasks in order to give the palm an occasional rest. The symptoms of trigger finger may also be associated with gout, metabolic disorders, or rheumatoid arthritis.
Trigger fingers are common in musicians.
While discomfort in the palm at the base of the affected finger may be the first sign of trigger finger, the painful snap when bending and straightening the finger is the most common symptom. The patient feels pain over the top of the finger, in addition to pain in the palm of the hand below the finger. Occasionally, a finger or thumb will lock into position while bent, or less frequently, while straightened. The snapping is often worse overnight, and then improves during the day as the patient uses the finger more often and the nocturnal hand swelling diminishes. The history related by the patient is usually diagnostic and can be confirmed with the classic physical signs.