®Easing in warm water
Put your hand in warm water and gently straighten your finger under the water. If your finger is stuck when you wake up, starting the day this way makes movement easier. Do not force it.
In the morning and when needed2–3 in 100The share of people who develop trigger finger at some point in their lives
Over 40More common; diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis raise the risk
70–80%The share of cases in which a steroid injection relieves pain and triggering (national patient leaflet)
12 weeksHow long improvement with a splint and exercises can take
What is it?
The tendons that bend the fingers glide through small tunnels attached to the bone. When the tendon or its sheath swells and thickens, it catches at the mouth of the tunnel; sometimes a small nodule forms. The nodule passes through the tunnel as the finger bends, catches as it straightens and then suddenly releases, like a trigger being pulled and let go.
Often the cause is not known; sometimes it starts after an injury. It is more common over the age of 40, in women, and in people with diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis. Repetitive tasks that need a firm grip, such as using scissors or secateurs, can also set it off.
Symptoms
- A finger or thumb getting stuck in a bent position
- A clicking or popping feeling when straightening it
- Pain and tenderness at the base of the finger, in the palm
- A small swelling at the base of the finger that moves with the finger
- Having to use the other hand to straighten the finger
- Symptoms being more noticeable in the morning
The first step: resting the tendon
Cut down on tasks that make the symptoms worse, especially repetitive and firm gripping, until things improve. The longer the finger stays stuck in a bent position, the more irritated and thickened the tendon becomes; that is why acting early matters.
A night splint is the most effective tool at this stage: a short splint that limits movement at the base of the finger rests the tendon and the tunnel and reduces triggering in the morning. It is worn through the night; a hand therapist can make one that suits you. Applying anti-inflammatory gel to the base of the finger at night may also help; ask your pharmacist first.
Improvement with a splint and movements can take up to 12 weeks. If the finger triggers constantly, or you have to use your other hand to straighten it, a steroid injection is considered; if the injection is not enough either, a small operation is done to release the tunnel.
Treatment
- RestCutting down on tasks that need repetitive, firm gripping.
- Night splintRests the tendon by keeping the finger straight; very effective for mild triggering and triggering at night.
- GoGentle movements that keep the tendon gliding, 4–5 times a day.
- MedicationA painkiller or anti-inflammatory gel for pain; ask your pharmacist.
- Cortisone injectionReduces the swelling; success is lower in people with diabetes.
- SurgeryWhen other methods have not worked; under local anaesthetic, as a day case.
Care at home
Six things to do for trigger finger
Do the movements without forcing and without making the finger “snap”. If it catches, make the movement smaller. All of them come from the hand therapy leaflets of UK hospitals.
Ice massage at the base of the finger
Put a little baby oil on the base of your finger. Wrap an ice cube in cling film or a thin cloth and rub it firmly over the base of the finger until the ice has melted. The aim is to reduce the swelling in the area.
Until the ice has melted, once a dayHook and fist
Start with your fingers straight. Keeping the knuckles at the base of the fingers straight, curl the tips into a hook; then close your fingers into a full fist and open them again.
10 repetitions, 4–5 times a dayTabletop position
Start with your fingers straight. Bend forwards only at the knuckles at the base of the fingers, keeping the fingers flat like a tabletop. Then straighten again.
10 repetitions, 4–5 times a dayClosing into a fist with the other hand
With your good hand, gently close the fingers of the affected hand into a fist; the fingers themselves should not tense. Then let go. This keeps the joints moving without straining the tendon.
5–10 repetitions, 4 times a dayNight splint
Wear the splint your hand therapist gave you, or a short splint that limits movement at the base of the finger, through the night. The tendon and the tunnel it passes through rest, and triggering in the morning is reduced. If your skin becomes red or the splint rubs, let your therapist know.
Every night; your therapist decides for how longVideo
Videos on trigger finger
From the YouTube channels of Mayo Clinic in the USA and of Dr James O’Donovan, a doctor in the UK.
What is trigger finger?
A video summarising the condition and the treatment options.
Relief exercises
An exercise video presented by a doctor and a physiotherapist.
Frequently asked questions
Does trigger finger get better on its own?
Mild cases can get better in a few weeks without treatment. In some people, however, it comes back from time to time or becomes long-term. The longer the finger stays stuck in a bent position, the more irritated the tendon becomes; that is why resting the hand early, a night splint and gentle movements matter. When the advice is followed, improvement can take up to 12 weeks.
Do cortisone injections work?
According to the national patient leaflet in Scotland, the injection relieves pain and triggering in about 70–80% of cases; success is lower in people with diabetes. Randomised controlled research, however, is scarce: the Cochrane review found two small trials of 63 people; at four weeks, treatment was successful in 37 out of 100 of those given a steroid and 17 out of 100 of those given local anaesthetic alone.
What can I do about a finger that sticks in the morning?
In most people the symptoms are more noticeable in the morning. A short splint that limits movement at the base of the finger through the night is very effective at reducing morning triggering. Putting your hand in warm water when you wake and gently straightening your finger also makes movement easier; do not force it open.
Will I need surgery?
Most people do not need it. If other methods do not work, the tunnel the tendon passes through is released in a small procedure, usually under local anaesthetic. A small dressing stays on for 10–14 days, and the hand can be used for light tasks the same day. It rarely comes back.
When should you see a doctor?
See a doctor in the following situations:
- If the symptoms do not improve or keep getting worse
- If it stops you doing your daily activities
- If the finger is locked bent and will not straighten at all
- If there is redness, warmth and swelling of the finger together with a fever (the same day)
- If you cannot bend or straighten the finger at all after an injury (the same day)
Sources
- NHS. Trigger finger. Page last reviewed 17 November 2025.
- NHS Scotland. Trigger finger: national patient information leaflet.
- North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust. Hand therapy: trigger finger. Leaflet PIL1517. Reviewed 30 March 2026.
- Peters-Veluthamaningal C, van der Windt DAWM, Winters JC, Meyboom-de Jong B. Corticosteroid injection for trigger finger in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009;(1):CD005617.
- St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Trigger finger. Hand therapy leaflet THE_TF_02. April 2020.
- Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust. Trigger finger. Hand Physiotherapy leaflet 25909. September 2025.