I just had surgery for Trigger Finger 4.5 weeks ago. It's been a pain
in my ass for several years. Long fishing trips really wrecked it, in
addition to lots of shovel and rake work each spring.

Splint your finger and rest it for 8-10 days and see if it helps.
Don't try to work it loose, because that will irritate the tendon and
make it worse. I've had a couple of steroid injections but it's not
good to get those year after year because the cortisone softens your
tendons.

So I finally got the surgery and although it's much better, I doubt my
hand will ever quite be the same. I had to get it done or I wouldn't
have been able to function in Alaska later this month. RW and Willi
and the gang (Danl and Bevin) probably won't believe this but I'll
probably fish a little less than my normal "never stop fishing" M.O.

We'll see.

There's a newer "endoscopic" version of the trigger finger surgery that
makes for a quicker recovery. I should have done a little more
homework beforehand because that procedure is much better. I'm just
basing that on anectodal evidence and comparing my experience with a
friend's endoscopic results. Good luck. If you're just now noticing
it you've probably got a few years before it becomes really
debilitating.

bruce h