Considering that around 90% of cases improve with initial treatment, temporary disability due to trigger finger can last for a maximum of a couple of days during the corticosteroid infiltration into the tendon sheath.
Individuals who have undergone surgery should wait between 3 and 4 weeks before returning to manual work (with prior medical consent). During this time, the wound heals, and the tendon gradually reduces inflammation to achieve optimal and pain-free functioning.