Middle Finger Pain: Causes and Treatment | Incheon Trigger Finger Tenosynovitis
Table of Contents
Hello, I am Choi Yeon-seung, a Korean medical doctor at Baengnokdam Korean Medicine Clinic.
Diagnosis Starting from Sensation
“I feel a catching sensation in the first joint of my finger.”
“The first joint of my finger doesn't extend well.”
“It feels stiff in the morning, and I get a catching sensation when I move it.”
Patients who voice these complaints in the examination room are usually quite cautious. The pain isn't clear-cut, and hospitals often tell them there's no major issue. But they themselves clearly feel it – this isn't just the stiffness from using a hand they're not used to.
Where Does It Hurt?
Pain centered on the PIP, not the A1 pulley
Typical trigger finger is well-known for a clicking sensation on the palm side, specifically at the base where the finger begins—below the MCP joint. Characteristic symptoms include stiffness when pressing that area, inability to extend the finger after bending it, a clicking sound, a popping sensation, or a 'locking' symptom where it doesn't extend at all.
Is This Really Trigger Finger?
The Continuum and Flow of Pathology
There are moments when both patients and doctors get confused. Does a clicking sensation automatically mean it's trigger finger? Conversely, if there's no clicking, does that mean it's not trigger finger? We often place too much emphasis on 'diagnostic labels'. However, in actual clinical practice, diseases are rarely so clear-cut.
Why Does the PIP Joint Feel Problematic?
The Indistinct Lines Between Tendon Sheaths, Fascia, and Ligaments
“The very first joint hurts. It aches when I press it, and it catches when I move it.” Patients who describe their symptoms this way almost invariably exhibit localized tenderness around the PIP joint. Yet, ironically, imaging tests often show no significant issues with the 'joint itself'.
A Condition with No Specific Diagnosis, Yet Clear Pain
“Hospitals tell me there’s nothing wrong. But it hurts, you know?”
This sentiment is heard more often than one might think. And within these words lies a crucial area that the medical system often overlooks.
Treatment Isn't Just About the Hand
The Art of Releasing the Flow
Just because a finger hurts doesn't mean treatment should focus solely on that finger. On the contrary, in Korean medicine, we say, "To heal the hand, one must first release the flow throughout the entire arm."
Clinic Information
- Clinic Hours -
Mon-Fri 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Lunch Break 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
※ We do not offer individual consultations via this blog. For appointments and clinic-related inquiries, please check our Naver Place page or official website.
Baengnokdam Korean Medicine Clinic | 3rd Floor, Songdo Dream City, 81 Convensia-daero, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon
#MiddleFingerPain #TriggerFinger #Tenosynovitis