Trigger finger injury

[Cory]

Anyone had injury to their trigger finger? If so what happened, how did you recover, were there lasting impacts, has it changed how you train, and has it changed your ability?

I have a cut on my right hand (SH) trigger finger. It's in the crease near the tip of the finger. Edge of a plastic sign cut it pretty deep (i saw meat when it happened)but looks like a paper cut now. I went to a doctor who did liquid stitch and ordered Xrays of the finger. It isnt broken or dislocated but has tissue damage. Its swollen pretty bad.

Im worried about the tendon on the underside of my finger being cut or damaged. I think the technical term would be my flexor digitorum profundus tendon and the most distal end of my phlanx.

At the moment all dry fire has ceased, and i cant really use my finger (or bend the last joint). It still theobs and hurts. But its only been a week. Im hoping it recovers well, otherwise I'm going to have to become left handed and thats going to be a struggle.

Every injury is different, but have others had trigger finger injury?

-Cory

[TOTS]

Yes. I broke my trigger finger about eight years ago. Spiral fracture right through the second joint. Still have a degradation in strength and dexterity compared to before. I can’t determine the impact on shooting that it has had as it happened prior to my getting into shooting. But I don’t think I would be any better if I had never had this injury.

Barring a severing of the tendon I would encourage you that you won’t have as long lasting effects as I have due to the nature of soft tissue vs joint damage and recoveries associated. Joints just never heal to be the same as they were. I would encourage you to take things as slowly as they need and allow it to heal completely; don’t rush things. Take this from a Marine who’s mantra was “if it isn’t coming through the skin or won’t make me pass out from blood loss- then ill deal with it later!”

[Dismas316]

That pretty much sucks, sorry to hear that. Really only two options are to work with the middle finger with the your trigger indexed forward or become proficient with your weak hand. Probably wouldn't hurt to do both. I work a fair amount with my weak hand shooting and I have actually practiced on occasion two handed shooting the opposite hand (left). I've always like trying to do things ambidextrous even though I'm not. Actually considered on multiple occasion getting a "lefty" holster just for that reason but haven't yet.

I'm sure you'll recover but I would be willing to bet if you go the next few months doing the above, you'll be glad you did. Heck it's possible you become even a better shooter.

[BN]

I cut my trigger finger several years ago and had stitches and one of those plastic guards. I just shot left handed for a while. It healed up OK. Any time you injure something it will never be quite as good as before but I soon switched back to my strong hand and it hasn't held me back.

[LSP552]

I’ve broken my trigger finger twice, once at the knuckle. I’m probably pretty lucky that the only lasting result has been a minor loss of some flexibility. I really don’t think they made a difference with my trigger press, once it healed.

Good luck!

[blues]

Judging by my own hands and fingers, I think you'll be fine once the healing is finished if there is no nerve damage, and you didn't sever tendons and / or ligaments which should have been apparent to the physician.

I would recommend, once the healing is well under way, that you keep the area moist with vaseline and knead the area gently to minimize scar tissue development and issues. Once you have full use, there are lots of exercises you can do for your finger to keep it healthy and viable.

[Cory]

Judging by my own hands and fingers, I think you'll be fine once the healing is finished if there is no nerve damage, and you didn't sever tendons and / or ligaments which should have been apparent to the physician.

I would recommend, once the healing is well under way, that you keep the area moist with vaseline and knead the area gently to minimize scar tissue development and issues. Once you have full use, there are lots of exercises you can do for your finger to keep it healthy and viable.

I have little faith in the doctor. Workman's comp said I have to go to her, and she couldn't care less about my pain, range of motion, or recovery. It's one of those walk in clinic chains that hands out antibiotics and band aids. I think tendon/ligiment issues remain a possibility.

-Cory

[Doc_Glock]

Anyone had injury to their trigger finger? If so what happened, how did you recover, were there lasting impacts, has it changed how you train, and has it changed your ability?

I have a cut on my right hand (SH) trigger finger. It's in the crease near the tip of the finger. Edge of a plastic sign cut it pretty deep (i saw meat when it happened)but looks like a paper cut now. I went to a doctor who did liquid stitch and ordered Xrays of the finger. It isnt broken or dislocated but has tissue damage. Its swollen pretty bad.

Im worried about the tendon on the underside of my finger being cut or damaged. I think the technical term would be my flexor digitorum profundus tendon and the most distal end of my phlanx.

At the moment all dry fire has ceased, and i cant really use my finger (or bend the last joint). It still theobs and hurts. But its only been a week. Im hoping it recovers well, otherwise I'm going to have to become left handed and thats going to be a struggle.

Every injury is different, but have others had trigger finger injury?

-Cory

If you can’t bend the last joint just a wiggle, you have cut the FDP tendon and need to see a hand surgeon ASAP.

Also: do you have normal sensation to the tip?

And FYI, my board certification in hand surgery means I am SME for this injury, feel free to contact via PMs.

And, no matter the injury, your attitude toward it has more effect on your ultimate recovery than you realize. You will be able to shoot fine, eventually, even if the tendon is cut and repaired.

[blues]

I have little faith in the doctor. Workman's comp said I have to go to her, and she couldn't care less about my pain, range of motion, or recovery. It's one of those walk in clinic chains that hands out antibiotics and band aids. I think tendon/ligiment issues remain a possibility.

-Cory

I'm not a doctor, obviously, Cory, but if you have feeling in the tip of the finger and surrounding area, and without reopening the wound have the ability to slightly flex and extend the joint, I'd think it's a pretty safe bet you're gonna heal just fine.

If you remain concerned, if you have your own health insurance, I'd contact a physician of your own choosing and have them give you a second opinion. You'd probably only be out your co-pay or deductible or whatever.


ETA: I posted this reply to you, Cory, before seeing Enel's post just above. I'm glad my advice did not conflict with his but I will now defer to him since I had no idea we had a specialist in the house. Thanks Enel for stepping up.

Just to show how resilient our fingers are, I detached a tendon or ligament in the middle finger of my left hand on a three week motorcycle trip. When I saw the orthopedic surgeon upon going home, he said "this probably won't work and you'll probably need surgery but there's no hurt in trying" and proceeded to splint my finger for about three weeks. Wouldn't you know, the damn thing reattached itself without surgery? (I had that injury that makes the tip of the finger drop toward the palm without the ability to extend it.)

Anyway, good luck. I trust it will turn out great.

[Cory]

I'm not a doctor, obviously, Cory, but if you have feeling in the tip of the finger and surrounding area, and without reopening the wound have the ability to slightly flex and extend the joint, I'd think it's a pretty safe bet you're gonna heal just fine.

If you remain concerned, if you have your own health insurance, I'd contact a physician of your own choosing and have them give you a second opinion. You'd probably only be out your co-pay or deductible or whatever.


ETA: I posted this reply to you, Cory, before seeing Enel's post just above. I'm glad my advice did not conflict with his but I will now defer to him since I had no idea we had a specialist in the house. Thanks Enel for stepping up.

Thanks blues. I sent Enel a PM. I totally forgot he was a doctor, and thought he just really liked mallets and breaking stuff.

-Cory

[theJanitor]

Sounds like you've got sound opinion with Enel.

So to make you feel better, my cousin had his trigger finger caught in a machine sprocket. The tip of his finger is gone down to the base of his nail. He's a 1911 guy now.:cool:

[Cory]

Enel basically just took time out of his Saturday to video chat with me and talk about my finger. Bottom line, give it some time but dont let it get stiff. I'll live.

The quality of people on this forum leaves me in awe.

-Cory

[CraigS]

Glad you have Enel to help. Prior to his post I was going to say run away from the doc and find one who cares. I suspect that rehap exercises will be key to getting back full function. Do them religiously.

[txdpd]

One thing not mentioned is cleanliness and infection control. I had a staph infection develop in a minor cut on my left ring finger, and I would hazard that it was a week old cut that was mostly healed. Anyways the cut wasn't bad, a trip to the ER and two rounds of antibiotics were no bueno. Cipro is bad medicine. Keep it clean, keep it dry, wear gloves when needed.

The real moral of the story is if it gets painful, puffy, swollen, and red, go see your doctor right away. It's not going away.

[Clobbersaurus]

Glad your finger is going to heal up! Use this time to practice WHO.

Seriously, do it.

You won’t regret that you did the next time you need to use WHO at training, class or at a match.