Trigger finger, the condition in which a finger gets stuck in a bent position, at times might be merely an inconvenience. Nevertheless, it can be a disruptive and painful inconvenience, which can impact such everyday tasks as driving.
Or, in the case of Daniel Davis, a most cherished activity – golfing.
“It was a bit of a pain when it would lock up,” Davis said of his right pinkie finger, “and I would have to physically move it.”
Trigger finger generally results from inflammation within a tendon sheath, which restricts tendon motion. An inflamed sheath can be caused by many factors, such as repeated movements and forceful use of the finger or thumb or by rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and diabetes.
Davis, a retired US Department of Energy engineering technician, first noticed something was wrong about a year ago, and it progressively worsened. “It was time to do something about it. It wasn’t going away.”
He asked his surgeon, Dr. Jonathan Evans, if he should get a cortisone shot. “He said that would just be a temporary fix. So I said, let’s go with the surgery.”
In February, Dr. Evans performed the surgery, which entails cutting open the constricted section of tendon sheath to allow the tendon to move better.
“The whole process was just great.” Davis said. “I had been to the Surgery Center before for different procedures. They did a fantastic job – the nurses, Dr. Evans, the anesthesiologist (Dr. Brian Johnson). They versed me well on what was going to happen.”
Within a month, other than the pinkie feeling a little stiff, the finger healed with a full range of motions. “There aren’t that many superlatives that I can use to explain how good the experience was,” he said. “Dr. Evans did a wonderful job.”
Davis’ opinion comes from the perspective of someone who also spent 21 years in military aviation and served in two medical units. “Many of my friends and colleagues were medics and doctors, so I have a high regard for the medical profession. I was fortunate to work with very elite people all my life. I know when I am in the presence of a professional.”
