Yesterday afternoon I saw the hand doctor (well, physician's assistant) who confirmed what I suspected: trigger finger caused by synovial tendonitis. Rather than surgery, he elected to shoot cortisone into the tendon of the ring finger on my left hand.

I will only say that it was extremely painful. The only thing I've ever had done that comes close is when, many years back, an oral surgeon injected a local anesthetic directly into a cyst in my mouth -- which caused me to pass out.

So far it's not doing much but I was told it will take a couple of days.

Yeesh! The things I go through for me!