What does locking or catching finger feel like with trigger finger?

A finger may catch as you bend or straighten it, then release with a snap or a noticeable jump. It can feel stiff on waking or after the hand has been still. Some people feel soreness or a tender lump in the palm at the base of the affected finger. The finger may need gentle help from the other hand to straighten.

A tendon normally glides through a small pulley near the base of the finger. With trigger finger, swelling or thickening can make that passage tight, so the tendon does not move smoothly. Symptoms may affect one finger or the thumb and can fluctuate during the day.

Rest from repeated gripping, forceful pinching, or tools that increase the catching. Keep the finger moving gently without forcing it past pain. A clinician may suggest a night splint, hand therapy, medicine, or an injection depending on the examination. Do not try to forcefully pull a locked finger straight.

Arrange an assessment if catching persists, interferes with dressing or work, or makes the finger difficult to straighten. Seek urgent help if the finger is suddenly deformed, blue, numb, severely swollen, or stuck after an injury.

Ask which tendon or pulley is involved, whether a splint could help, which hand activities to modify, and when an injection or procedure should be considered.