Roger,

Trigger Finger is an MSD, musculo-skeletal disorder. But think of it as a repetitive motion injury. It is acquired over time by performing a task too frequently, for too long, and possibly a task that requires too much force.

I recommend you ice it for up to 20 minutes, take ibuprophen, and perform a simple, gentle slow stretch: Bend the finger back the other way against your other middle finger.

Now to avoid surgery, and you WANT TO AVOID, it has risks, you must change the activity that is causing it. Otherwise the condition will return, even after surgery, if you keep doing it.

What repetitive motions do you perform with that finger? Do you type on the computer with that finger? Are you finger picking with that finger? Monitor your activities. And stop the activity or change fingers, or take breaks from the activity or brainstorm a new method.

PM me with questions.

chance