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Question

Trigger Thumb

Forum|Forum|1 month ago
April 28, 2026
3 replies
50 views

When my DR told me I have trigger thumb (which she demonstrated by gently pressing on the 'irritation lump' at the base of my thumb) we discussed options
.
A cortisone shot MAY help (doesn't help everyone) and would last AT MOST 3 months... and might or might not make the lump go totally away... meaning another shot
.
So I'm doing the 'non-intrusive' option of wearing a thumb brace... on in the morning and off on my way to bed (only removing during the day to wash my hands) for some unknown amount of time of at least a month, and maybe longer (with, of course, no guarantee the brace will fix the problem)
.
Typing is a bit awkward since the brace keeps hitting the space bar, but I'm hoping that keeping my thumb straight will, eventually, make the irritation lump and pain go away
.
This getting old and wearing out is not fun

John T Smith

Author

Community Expert

This has not been a good month... my right thumb is in a brace due to my sore tendon
.
I had a small argument with my table saw... the saw won.. at least I only had the blade about 1/8" above the wood... but the cut/gash on the side of my left thumb was about 1" long... totally my fault for a single 'second' of careless hand placement
.
9 stitches later my project is on hold for a week or so until I go back to Kaiser to get the stitches removed so I can go back to putting 'bug trim' around the edges of the security doors (9 stitches to be close together so no one stitch had much 'tension' holding the edges close)
.
DeWalt table saw is great... but it doesn't care what it cuts !!!

Nancy OShea

Community Expert

Double-thumb bummer!

How long must you remain taped up?

The last time I had stitches, the adhesive tape itched like crazy. I hope you don’t have to endure that misery.

Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert

John T Smith

Author

Community Expert

Thanks for the concern

The DR told me to keep my stitches and sutured area DRY since wet/soft skin has very little strength and may ‘rip’ if the area is stressed… so now I remove my bandage once a day to wash with soap and a ‘gentle’ stream of warm water and carefully pat my thumb dry and put on a new ‘non-stick’ bandage without any antibiotic lotion (after checking to be sure there is no infection) and finally the metal split on my thumb to protect against bumping it against anything

Being caused by a saw blade the cut was not narrow like from a knife, so she pulled the stitches ‘slightly’ tight, but not enough the cause the skin to tear

I go Wed to get the stitches removed, but I’m going to GUESS that I will be using a bandage and the metal splint until at least the end of the month… maybe until some time in June… I’ll decide that during my daily bandage change

I don’t have any itching from the bandage or extra tape, just the awkwardness of doing much of anything while wearing a metal splint

PS - I have but won’t post a picture without the bandage and splint

Nancy OShea

Community Expert

I use this no mess roll-on gel for topical relief of joint & tendon pain. Under $10 at Walmart.

The 4% lidocaine acts fast to break the pain cycle, and it’s safe to re-apply every few hours if needed.

Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert

John T Smith

Author

Community Expert

Thanks… might work, but the diclofenac in Voltaren works by ‘soaking in’ and working on the inflamed tendon… so I’m going to try that… with the thumb brace to restrict motion

John T Smith

Author

Community Expert

Has anyone used Voltaren Arthritis Pain Gel (diclofenac sodium 1%) and did it help?

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