On Quilting Time-out
 

I guess I'm on time-out for too much hand quilting. Actually I'm not sure what brought on the problem, but I've developed "trigger finger" in both thumbs. Weird! I can actually hand quilt quite well without bending the joint that pops, put have been told the repetative gripping can be part of the problem. I try to keep both thumbs stabilized and not having a needle in my hands is driving me nuts!!! Anyone dealt with trigger finger before have any suggestions? I'm getting real impatient!

I have never heard of this!! have you asked your doctor for advice? I would go crazy, as I hand quilt everything I make. I have just begun getting pain in the palm of one of my hands which makes it harder to quilt, but I am hoping to find a way to wrap it and take enough advil to keep it at bay. I began to quilt daily as a substitute to smoking and to keep away the depression of not being able to work due to disability..I will be praying that you find a solution to your problem

I had trigger finger in the thumb,but had to have operated on. Nothing else worked. joyce j

I have never heard of this. I hope you get some relief soon!!!

I have had to give up almost all hand work because of problems with my thumbs. They did not call it "trigger finger", but my joints are deteriorating. I used to do embroidery, chrocheting and knitting and now I can't do any.

wow...I had "overuse syndrom" once when I spend a whole week cutting out kits for a class! Talk about painful. I hope you heal quickly so you can get back to doing what you love soon!

I have had and do now have trigger finger in my other digits. I went to a hand specialist and they were able to give me shots that worked well but now I have some new ones starting so I suppose it is back to the dr. They can do the shots 2 times per finger than they say it is surgery. My shots have lasted over 5 years so it has been a big help.

With my kids we called it "Nintendo thumb" from playing video games. A little rest should help.

I have "metacarpel" something or other in my thumbs especially my left and I am right handed!
Bascially arthritis and the cushion wearing out. I have had several injections in both thumbs and it works
great for awhile. By a thumb brace and WEAR IT! I wear mine at work all the time since I am on the keyboard
at my computer all day. The brace keeps my thumb in place and helps me remember NOT to move it the wrong way.
It really does help! you might try one. Good luck! It is so much fun "getting old" ! Yea right!!!!!!!!!!!! ha

I use comfrey tincture (nickname is boneknit), available at health food stores for minor fractures with success. When my FIL fell and fractures some foot bones, he tried it and liked it. His comment also included that his trigger finger relaxed and he really liked this. Coincidence? or causal? I don't know but it's inexpensive and worth a try. I would apply it directly to the skin over the hurt bone (thumb) and add it to water for drinking (it says not for internal use but in my herbal training I was told otherwise).

Laurie

I also had "trigger thumb"....it would lock in a bent position! I went to the ortho/specialist and he did a very simple procedure, local numbing, about 3 stitches at the base of the thumb. Dr. explained that the tendon in the thumb that flexes/extends develops a nodule on it from overuse and won't slide thru a tunnel in there. He went in, snipped off the nodule, and all better. Has been 8 years ago and no problems. I would do it again, no second thoughts. I had tried the cortisone shots, and they didn't help.

Comfrey taken orally can cause liver problems, which is why that is not recommended. I'm going to try it topically for hand pain, though!

I also had "trigger finger" in both thumbs. One I had surgery on after three cortizone shots. The surgery worked well. The other finger does not trigger but sometimes it hurts to beat the band. I have had PT for it and I can do some things on my own to help. Now I have dupertrine constrictures on the palm of my hand involving my little and ring finger. They did surgery for a previous one and I haven't been happy with that surgery as I still don't have feeling in the bottom half of my pointer finger. I wouldn't jump for surgery but after the cortizone shots don't work anymore, it will probably be the way to go. I do needle turn applique which I love and I will keep doing that even if I have to train my toes to sew.

this is one of those things i had heard about but was never sure what it was. sounds painful and irritating. especially when it interrupts your pass time interests. just looked up online at mayo clinic website. you might want to look at what they have to say about it.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/tri...ents-and-drugs

Thanks everyone. I'm hoping I can rest them and avoid other medical treatment. I asked my hubby yesterday if he thought I could learn to quilt with my feet. (I know of a guy without arms that feeds himself, etc. with his feet.) It is so very painful to bend the thumb joint. Glad to hear those whose surgery has been successful. If this goes on much longer I think I'll be ready. The Mayo Clinic sight was one I was referred to when I got medical advice. Our family Dr. just returned from a mission trip to Africa yesterday, so I want to get his take when I see him soon.

Yes I had to have surgery for trigger finger last year. Mine was the middle finger left hand. Have no idea why I developed it. I thought it was arthritis so I didn't do anything about it until I broke my little finger and damaged my ring finger. By then it was too late for it to be healed with steroids, so had surgery then had to do physical therapy.

I will tell you of a wonderful drug out there to deal with pain. No narcotics. It is called Lodine and it is wonderful. It is prescription only but most doctors will prescribe it as it's not addictive. I take it when I get a whopping headache or when my back hurts from so much cutting. It takes about 30-45 minutes to work and when it does, ALL the pain is completely gone. You can't take Ibuprophine when you take it. You can take up to 2 pills a day as they work for 12 hours. And I've tried all kinds of medicines for pain and this one is a life saver. My husband works for the railroad and has had neck surgery and uses it daily. Only thing that takes away his pain. He says it works so much better than pain pills (which are addictive). Just thought someone out there might need some pain meds since this thread discusses pain issues.

I had trigger thumb surgery in both thumbs (about 1 yr apart). It's an easy surgery & have had no problems since.