SPECIALTY EXPERTISE For Shoulders, Arms, and Hands
NEWSLETTER
The Relationship Between Trigger Finger and Perimenopause Hand Therapy Can Help Treat This Frustrating Side Effect of The Change
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Do you have unexplained pain in your palm or does your thumb or fingers “catch” or “lock” when you bend it and try to straighten it? You’re likely experiencing trigger finger, a common condition affecting older women. At Hands for Living, our team of hand and occupational therapists can help you treat, manage, and prevent trigger finger. Trigger finger results from inflammation of the tendons in your hand responsible for bending your fingers. The damage to the tendons can cause your finger — typically the ring finger or the thumb — to snap in and out of a hooked position. Women are more vulnerable than men to developing trigger finger, particularly as they get older. In fact, there’s some evidence that the condition is linked to perimenopause, as the change in hormones during that time can lead to increased swelling and inflammation in the joints.
If you’re struggling with trigger finger, the experts at Hands for Living can help treat the condition so you can go back to living your life without impairment! What Are the Symptoms of Trigger Finger? The most apparent symptom of trigger finger is the motion that earns the condition its name: your finger suddenly locking into a bent shape, then popping back out again. However, you may notice these additional symptoms as well: • Painless clicking when you move your finger • Painful catching or popping in the joints • Stiffness or swelling, particularly in the morning • Difficulty straightening your finger out completely • Pain in the palm or the fingers
Our therapists can help you determine if you’re experiencing trigger finger. The Causes of Trigger Finger — and the Connections to Perimenopause It’s not always clear why someone develops trigger finger. It may be linked to repetitive movements, such as typing or playing a musical instrument. Your risk of developing trigger finger also increases if you have certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, carpal tunnel syndrome, hypothyroidism, or rheumatoid arthritis. However, the prevalence of trigger finger among women in their 50s suggests a link to perimenopause. Perimenopause describes the period that marks the transition into menopause. Both perimenopause and menopause bring a host of side effects, including increased joint pain.
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