I knit and crochet and recently completely a Beth Ferrier pattern applique quilt that I appliqued by hand (lots and lots of applique). In the middle of the applique, I actually had trigger finger in my pinkie. Cortisone helped a lot, finishing the applique helped even more :rolleyes:

I have arthritis in my hands. I can't do all my rotary cutting for a quilt at one time or do handwork for very long. I have several quilts that need binding. I am hoping that when the weather warms up and the rain stops that I can get them done.

I were braces at night while I am sleeping. Seems to help me

I had "trigger finger" on the middle two fingers of my left hand. Nothing seemed to help. When my fingers started to bend into my palm and I had to use the other hand to pry them open, my doctor sent me to an ortho. surgeon who was a hand specialist. I had outpatient surgery to release the tendons. I have a one inch scar in the palm of my hand and the hand has worked perfectly ever since the surgery, that was eight years ago. My advice at this point is that if it does not improve with standard treatment, consider the possibility of surgery. After surgery, it slowed me down for about a week.
We use our hands for EVERYTHING, we need to take care of them.

I too have osteoarthritis throughout my body and use a glucosamine supplement for some relief, but it didn't help with my trigger finger and eventually had to have surgery. Good luck!

For those that had surgery , how long were you on restrictions. I need to have surgery on my left thumb.The doctor told me I'd have to be off work a week. But when the scheduler was setting up my appointments, she wanted to make my first post op appointment 1 1/2 weeks after. So now i am worried about asking for too much time off work.