An interesting medical observation

[hrj]

So for the last half year or more (hmm ... calculates ... more) I've been having problems with "trigger finger". I.e., inflammation of the thumb flexor tendon/sheath, such that extending it fully will "pop" as the inflamed part goes through the tendon sheath. Or such that it won't fully extend at all. At one point I had a medical consultation on it (when regular doses of aspirin didn't seem to help) and got a cortisone injection, which made it go away for a while. But then it came back. I've been taking regular aspirin doses to see if I can coax it into submission again. It sort of comes and goes in intensity, so I have some hope of self-resolution.

But the really fascinating thing is, if I baby the thumb and try to avoid using it, this has no beneficial effect on the problem. But if I have to do heavy manual labor for some reason (like digging in the garden, or assembling furniture, or other interpretations of "manual" that focus on the "manus" part) at some point I'll notice that I'm getting full extension with no pain at all. I can still feel the little painful lump at the base of the thumb where the inflammation is, but it isn't even "popping" at that point.

So maybe what I need to do to cure myself is to start every day with a lot of intense, heavy hand labor. Curious.

Comments

[kahnegabs.livejournal.com]

Have you tried Glucosomin? It helps me.

[hrj.livejournal.com]

Trigger-finger isn't really a joint issue (which, as I understand it, is what glucosamine is supposed to help with) -- it's a tendon issue (more similar to carpal tunnel type problems).

[kahnegabs.livejournal.com]

Well, I hope you find a solution.

I haven't had the problem again for a couple years, whatever fixed it.