[YEA]  05/16/2010: Redstone from Weston, Ma: "I had trigger thumb three times, with severe pain; and was unable to grip anything with the hand. I had it in my right and left hands, about a year apart. Both times I wound up begging the doctor for a cortisone shot. The cortisone worked and I got relief with one shot.

When I got it again last year, I decided to try acupuncture. It took about 6-8 sessions but it healed and it hasn't come back. I am now in grad school for a Masters in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Try it.

There may be a Community Acupuncture practice in your area - and the cost is very reasonable - usually a sliding scale. Give it some time. It's not a magic bullet, and you may need a number of sessions to get relief. Avoid surgery - almost NEVER the answer in my opinion. Good luck."

06/21/2010: Joyce from Mystic, Ct. replies: "hi, i am receiving acupuncture treatments for my "trigger thumb." however, this is a new thing for my practitioner. do you happen to know the exact points used so i can tell her. thank you!"

08/14/2011: Deborah from Scottsdale, Az replies: "Oh boy.... If YOU have to tell your doctor how to do this, I would change doctors!"

[BETTER BUT NOT CURED]  02/01/2012: Shirley44 from Powell River, Bc, Canada replies: "I have had trigger finger in my ring finger of my right hand for a few months. I had an appointment with a doctor for a cortisone shot. I am deathly afraid of cortisone so thought I'd try acupuncture before my appointment. No results the first 2 times but the 3rd time he put the needle into the back of my finger where the hardening was and it is now 90% better. He figures about 6 sessions. I am so pleased."

05/29/2012: Rohini from London replies: "My mum has trigger thumb on both thumbs for 8 months now. Initially the doctor advised an injection but we did not go for it. The pain went away by keeping the thumb straight for a few months however she has not been able to bend her thumb and straighten it without another hand's support. She was recommended a few physiotherapy sessions which has improved bend movement on her right thumb but thats only when she has exercised. They make her do some mobilisation exercises. Her left thumb which got trigger thumb before is not paining but there is no improvement and she is not able to bend and open. The doctor suggests surgery and by no way we want to go for that. Can someone in this forum help... we are happy to try any natural therapies which may be slower but no surgery.."

06/12/2012: "I cured a middle finger trigger by limiting movement of the digit, icing for 10 - 15 minutes several times a day and doing deep massage of the muscles in the forearm that work the fingers. When I focused on the muscles for the middle finger they were very tight and painful, perhaps from spasm. I broke the spasm with pressure and massaged the muscle further. In a month or two pain, swelling and locking were gone in this instance. I am careful now to use a padded bicycling glove to protect the tendons in the palm when I garden, rake and do repairs at my house. I am careful to not make repetitive grips that tax the fingers."

10/13/2011: Dora from Houston, Texas, Usa: "I want to thank Ted for the advice on how to cure Trigger finger. Also liked to share that I put Aloe vera on my finger and it is helping with inflammation of the finger.

Thank you very much to you all who shared such of important information. God bless you. Dora"

[YEA]  09/04/2008: Di from Rich Square, North Carolina: "I am diabetic 44 yrs on insulin and I have triggers fingers the pain was unbearable recently but I have tried the vinegar and baking soda and lemon juice along with my new inflamaratory meds I feel 100% better
..but the baking soda bothers my stomach ..."

EC: For more information about Ted's alkalizing formulas, click here.

08/10/2012: Loy from Singapore replies: "May I know what kinds of new inflamaratory meds u are using. thanks, loy"

[YEA]  08/20/2009: Roncheat from Haskell, Oklahoma Usa: "I have a trigger finger on my right hand that comes and goes. I have found that it is affected by citrus juices, or something along that line. If I drink orange juice or lemonade, or take a vitamin c supplement, it will cause my finger to lock up. The more I drink, the worse it gets. My doctor tells me i'm crazy. I can lay off juces for a week and the problem will go away completely."

02/22/2010: Judie from Utica, Mi replies: "I have been having a problem this winter from Trigger finger & pain. I wondered one day if it was the orange I was having each evening to try & stay out of junk food. Your post confimred I am not the only one. I never could take Vit.C either until I came across a type that is made from Sago palm. I used to work in a health food store & many people have the same sensitivity as you & I. Thanks again"

01/27/2011: Uchiki from Koloa, Hi, Usa replies: "My trigger thumb only occurs at night when I am sleeping. I recently had carpal tunnel release (3 mos. Ago) after 25 years of living with the disease. The surgeon said I had a very narrow sheath. He now says that is most likely the reason for the trigger thumb. Why now? By the way I have been eating lots of oranges, tangerines and grapefruit in the last couple of months. Do I continue to drink lemon water to alkalize?"

01/14/2012: Oyakra from Mays Landing, Nj replies: "I also had carpal tunnel release 3 mos. ago and I have developed trigger finger in multiple fingers on both hands. The problem seems to be predominately in my thumbs and varies in severity in my ring and pointer fingers. This is the worst in the morning upon waking, to the point of very limited use of my hands. I had lived with carpal tunnel for 18 years before getting the surgery which helped with the major nerve burning and vascular restriction. It's frustrating to now have a new problem arise. I'm going to try Ted's recommendations and follow up soon. Thanks, it helps to know I'm not alone."

[YEA]  07/08/2012: Miriam Fitchett from Las Vegas, Nv: "I had trigger finger in both thumbs for a year. Agony!! I started taking bromelain, an enzyme extracted from pineapples, (to prevent swelling) for an upcoming surgery last November. The dose was 3 times a day between meals for 3 weeks. After taking bromelian for 3 weeks my trigger fingers were cured completely! I take bromelain once a day now (preventative). To date, trigger finger(s) has not reoccured. Hope this helps!"

07/19/2012: Troy from Madisonville, Ky replies: "how r your fingers doing now? need an up date please...."

07/20/2012: Ascot from Wyandotte, Michigan replies: "Of all the postings, this sounds not only the simplest, but the most positive, so much so that I have ordered bromelain to give it a try with the understanding that what may work for one, might not work for another."

10/29/2012: Violet from Adelaide, Australia replies: "I started with vitamin b6 almost 3 weeks now but no sign of improvement. Getting anxious now and anyone can update after taking bromelain? just want to make sure it works. thanks."

11/02/2012: Diane from Atlanta, Ga replies: "What is the amount of bromelain that one needs to take three times a day to possibly cure trigger finger/thumb?"

[YEA]  11/21/2012: Hurt In Space from Nicosia, Cyprus replies: "Bromelain IS THE CURE for trigger finger. I have had considerable pain in my left thumb for over a year, could not bend it at all, and was postponing an opperation, since none of the numerous steroid pills I was given was of any help. I read about Bromelain, and took 3 pills a day, for about one month, almost completely cured my finger, no pain, I can almost bend fully. I will keep taking it."

02/21/2013: Alex from Paphos, Cyprus replies: "Dear Hurt in Space! Can you tell me how yr doing with the trigger finger and the bromelain??? I have trigger finger and de quervains in my left hand. Dr suggests surgery but I'm not into that and prefer to try natural ways to heal. Hope to hear om u soon."

03/27/2013: Coryd from Las Vegas, Nv replies: "Dear Miriam, I too am from Las Vegas, NV and have recently contracted Trigger Thumb and have been suffering for about 5 weeks. Just wanted to find out if you're making progress and still feeling better as a result of the Bromelain.. I have an appt with a hand specialist next week and I want to go in well equipped with as much information and possible solutions at that time. Where do you get Bromelain? I have only heard if it remotely. It would be great to not have to suffer this out for any longer than I have too. It is annoying AND painful!!"

[BETTER BUT NOT CURED]  12/22/2010: Jan from Louisville, Colorado: "I have had my second bout with trigger thumb. The first time I had a cortisone shot which after two weeks resolved the problem. My doctor didn't seem to think it would work and thought that I would probably have to have surgery to resolve it, but I was also taking MSM which I think helped tremendously. However, this second time around, the MSM has not worked. I really didn't want another cortisone treatment and have tried both exercises and other herbal treatments without success. Two weeks ago, I got an intestinal virus which I took colloidal silver for and noticed that my thumb was doing better, but I thought that it was finally starting to go away on it's own until yesterday morning. I woke up in a lot of pain, my thumb was swollen and red and hot to the touch. That's when I realized that it was an infection of some sort. Since I hadn't cut my thumb I was pretty sure that the infection was not bacterial, and had a strong suspicion that it was a yeast infection. Which explains why it had reoccured and why some people are having success with garlic as it has antifungul properties.

So I started taking colloidal silver, a tablespoon every few hours, letting it sit under my tongue as long as possible for quicker absorption. I also rubbed horipito extract on the swollen area before going to bed and kept a hotpack on it through the night. This morning, the swelling and redness, and most of the pain had subsided. Through the last two days, I have also rubbed in an arnica cream. By this evening, I was able to bend my thumb without a lot of pain or snapping, and I haven't been able to do this for the last six weeks. I plan on continuing the same treatment using the horipito and silver in the same amounts for at least the next two to three days. Then I will reduce the amount of colloidal silver to a tablespoon in the morning and one in the evening until I am absolutely sure that the infection is gone. In all honesty, I am absolutely amazed how quickly this is working for me."

07/23/2011: Artsiecl from Waynesboro, Ga, Burke replies: "I am having trouble with a trigger thumb and have been studying lots of things. I over-use my thumb (right one) sewing thru real thick fabric and many layers..... Also paint kid's faces, (sometimes 70 a day)..... I also had been slack in taking my vitamins and minerals..... I also have thyroid problems. Considering all of this, I am trying to do the nutritional thing to cure this. I just read Dr. Jonathan Wright's newsletter where he said that another Dr. recommended 50 milligrams of B6 3 times a day and give it long enough and it will go away..... Probably. I am going to do this with all of the other B vitamins and iodine and lots of minerals.......

I know nutrition helps everything. Also compression helps and resting the sheaths and ligaments in the thumb......

Hope this helps."

[YEA]  10/25/2009: Mike from Franklin Square, New York: "I had suffered with carpal tunnel for 3 years in both hands and got progressively worst to the point that I was only getting 45mins to 2hrs sleep per night. I had tried every cream, every natural vitamin and supplements. Nothing worked, so I decide to have surgery on my left hand first (since I am righty)and presto problem solved, 2 months later I had my right hand operated on and was cured for carpal tunnel. My joy lasted for 3 days after my second surgery, because I developed severe Fibromyalgia throughout my entire body that lasted 7 months. I was actually crippled, if not for my desire to overcome this ailment, I probably would have been hospitalized and I thought I was going to DIE. I got up every morning and took Vicadin and Cymbalta plus a steroid to get through my day. (I pomise I will get to the Trigger Finger Cure). I beat my Fibromyalgia by my persistance and crawling to the gym to strenghten my muscles. After I was cured for the Fibro, I developed Trigger Fingers on the left index and thumb and right hand thumb and pinky, I could not pick up anything because the pain and locking effect was so painful. However, I cured my trigger fingers by not eating fried foods and taking B complex vitamins. Also a chinese acupunturist told me that warm or hot beverages must be drank with all meals. After 1 week of 4 eight ounces of warm water, B complex vitamins, No fried foods, Cod liver oil and hot tea with food---Presto no more Trigger Finger and better health and complexion. I hope it works for you.."

02/22/2010: Judie from Utica, Mi replies: "How much cod liver liver oil did you take a day ?"

01/07/2011: Debi Rudd from Hertfordshire , Uk replies: "I heard yesterday that Linseed Oil is sometimes better than Cod Liver Oil."

01/07/2011: Francisca from Michelbach-le-bas, Alsace, France replies: "Aren't you afraid that the Linseed oil might get rancid without you noticing it? I took it in capsules for awhile. First I had very dry skin. I stopped taking it and my skin got better although it is always quite dry. Now I started taking the capsules again and after maybe two weeks I felt like pins under my skin when I would lean against something or lie down in bed. If I turned to the other side that side would start itching and I would feel the pins again. Now I have stoped taking them and I am better. I don't think that I will take them again but I am quite afraid of taking the oil itself in case I don't notice if it goes rancid which seems to be quite dangerous!"

[YEA]  08/17/2012: Chellow from Miami, Fl: "My trigger finger has been Cured, thank be to God. I was three weeks from my scheduled operation when I started a routine of hanging from a monkey bars, if I recall right I instantly had a result the first day. One week in the rooting I cancelled the operation and two months later more or less I'm cured.

This is what the therapy that I recommend:

Hang from a monkey bar or any alternative structure that you can roll your finger around a bar that lifts you from the floor. Hang from the bar for 10 seconds and release repeat this 10 times, do this exercise daily."

03/12/2013: Caloy from Pearl City, Hawaii replies: "Thank you so much for sharing.... I will definitely try that today and I will update you with the results. Mahalo!!!"

[YEA]  07/05/2012: Dora from Houston, Texas: "Months ago had Trigger Finger problem in my right thumb. I followed Ted's remedies from Earth Clinic and other remedies from the same website. I really improved when I started taking Fish oil and sometimes Cod liver oil, as well as eating more salmon, fish, fruits, and vegetables, and tried not to do much work with that hand with the injured thumb. Also, the exercises with a small ball that I got at the Academy store did help me. The ball is similar to the ones used to release stress. My thumb is a 90% better since the problem started. Now can move it very well..

I do not recommend surgery, found out that surgery is not the best option. I encourage you to be patient.

I thank God for you all who shared the information on the Trigger finger at Earth Clinic."

[YEA]  02/19/2008: Kim from Harrisburg, Pa: "Trigger Thumb/ Trigger Finger. First of all let me tell you I love this site. After suffering from trigger thumb (both hands) and Trigger finger,for 6 months I believe I found something that helps. After seeing my Doctor and having several injections, my last hope was surgery. This I didn't want. I tried everything. I came across a product called LivRite Flex-Ball. Its a small ball filled with a squishy material. I purchased it at Wal-Mart for $3.00 I have been using this ball for a week now and my symptoms are easing up. I can bend my thumbs again, and the pain is also easing. I'm not going to lie, when you first start to squeeze this ball, it hurts, but the pain does decrease with use. I set it by my T.V. everytime I sit down I do a few squeezes. Hope this helps some of you like it helped me."

12/29/2011: Hanna from Eidi, Faroe Islands (denmark), Eysturoy replies: "I live in Europe, where can I buy this ball?"

05/18/2013: Margaret from Grants Pass, Or: "I have trigger finger in my middle finger. If acidity causes it, does that mean I should avoid ACV? Also, I drink a lot of kefir that I culture at home. Kefir is acidic, and I wonder if that could be "triggering" it. I'd hate to have to give up kefir and/or ACV because of all the health benefits associated with them, but I do want to get rid of the trigger finger."

05/20/2013: Joy from Battleground, Wash replies: "I believe I read that low magnesium causes this but I also think that dehydration would contribute. Since magnesium pushes the calcium in and out of the cells and also aids the salt to hold the water in the cells then it would affect the joints as well.

With no water cushioning the joints, they would get sticky and very painful. Try a multi vitamin and multi mineral supplement and drink water half an hour before eating."

[YEA]  08/06/2008: Gayle Judice from Lafayette, Louisiana: "Bandaids cured my trigger finger. I kept a bandaid wrapped where my thumb bends, keeping it straight and unable to bend for (2 to 3) months and I was cured. I believe trigger finger flares up by using the flex motion too much and letting it heal and not being used (such as carpal tunnell) lets the joint relax."

05/12/2010: Sheblessed from Indianapolis, Indiana replies: "Hello

I have just been diagnosed with trigger finger on my left thumb. Ironically, it started with me getting a rose bud thorn in my thum, which I though I got all out. This happened in March 2010. It is May 2010, and I am my thumb is still hurting. I am trying everything I can not to have surgery. Right now I have a rubber ball I am squeezing. I might try the ginger tea. I appreciate any advice anyone has. I don't like surgery. Thanks"

[YEA]  05/18/2011: Nancy from Mc Kenzie Bridge, Or replies: "I agree with Gayle's bandaid method. I wore a splint on my finger for a long time to keep it from bending and it has cured my trigger finger in the past. When I have not been able to wear it though because it got in the way, I noticed a significant increase in the swelling and pain when my finger was able to bend. Gayle's idea of a bandaid is much better than a splint because it is a lot less cumbersome and can virtually be worn at all times."

[YEA]  09/08/2011: Katie from San Clemente, California replies: "I have been doing this for about 1 week and my finger feel much better. I have been using 2 inch blue tape and only change it a few times a day due to water."

02/04/2012: Lisa from New York, New York Usa replies: "Yes I use tape and it was getting better now its hurting again I am trying b-6, red river clay, arnica, traumeel, mend-me-shop home ultrasound, was feeling better but I had vitamin c, chocolate and caffeine today and now it hurts again. I am trying alkalyzing drops and I must lower the acid.

Just purchased the book Balancing Body Chemistry about over acid how this creates all disease. Great book. Thing is vit c is very important. I take Ester c where am I going to get that from now if not from this? Also I love dark chocolate. Green tea keeps me up at night even if I have it in morning.. Looks like acid foods cause the flare up. I bicycle a lot and grip the handle bar. Hate trigger thumb but refuse to go for the cortisone shot. It has helped people in one shot but I am afraid to weaken the tendons there. Also taking type 1 collagen, msm thought I bought it the other day for good but here it is again.

I like the hot water idea, the tape, the vitamin b6, garlic capsules and natural antiinfalammotory. When is this going to end? if it is diet related, looks like I am giving up so many foods nothing left to eat of things that I love that are also good for you such as some dk choco, caffeine is also beneficial in some levels, tomoto sauce is lycopene have to give all this up? What fun is there in eating now?? As it is I have given up most offending fattening foods but love certain things. Need to be food nun? once and for all what the heck is this trigger thumb and lets be rid of it!! I think I will try the acupuncture."

[YEA]  08/18/2012: Andrew from Los Angeles, Ca replies: "It worked for me! I had severe trigger thumb (left hand) for a month. Went to an orthepedic surgeon who diagnosed it as trigger thumb and gave me a cortisone shot. That worked for about a week. Pain came back. I did not want to have another cortisone shor or surgery so I looked for a homeopathic remedy. I found, and finally decided to try, the "bandaid" method. I bought some first aid tape at my local pharmacy, wrapped my thumb and kept the tape on day and night. After 2-3 days my thumb felt much better and did not hurt, especially at night and/or while sleeping.

After 3-4 weeks of taping my trigger thumb problem is 80%-90% managable! The tape/wrap "bandaid" method worked for me! Now I only need to put the tape on if my thumb is hurting at night and, if it is, the tape gives me immediate relief! It's a miracle!"

03/13/2013: Ange from Grifton, Nc, Us replies: "I love this method and it makes sense. Thanks for the information. I am going to try it!"

08/17/2011: Sue from Hillsboro, Mo: "Hi everyone. Has anyone had a ganglion cyst or a hard "knot" in the hand prior to the trigger finger? If so what can be done nonsurgically for the gangion? My husband is having this problem and so does his father. The doctor just wants to keep doing surgery on my father-in-law. Thanks!"

08/17/2011: Lily from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia replies: "Hi Sue, traditionally you hit the ganglion cyst with a huge book and it bursts. (the bible was the book of choice). I have done this and it goes down and sometimes comes back up so you just repeat the "cure", until it stays away. Hope this helps. Lily."

09/02/2011: Carla from Acworth, Ga replies: "Sue,

I had a ganglion cyst on my right wrist for several months- it was right in the joint and you could only see it when my wrist was bent- very painful. The doctor drained it twice and it always came back- but each time he mentioned hitting it with a book. The last time it came back I had someone us a Very large hard cover book to smack it. It has been about 5 years and it has not come back yet.

Just be careful with the joint!"

02/23/2012: Joanne from Tulsa, Ok replies: "I had a ganglion cyst years ago, I took large dose daily of crystal "C". The pain stopped first, then the bump disappeared. A few years later, I was pressured to stop my "C" intake by my GYN, because I was pregnant... Mistake. The ganglion cyst returned, but disappeared after I started by crystal "C" again. Crystal "C" is a high dosage vitamin C. My daughter is now 18 years old, and the cyst has not returned."

10/04/2010: Carly from Seattle, Wa - Usa replies: "Hi Pam, If I were you I would research Turmeric and Boron. I can't explain why, or how they work, but there are some excellent articles on here re Turmeric, and on the web re Boron. They are both working for me. I used to wake in the morning feeling like someone had slammed my hand in a door... It is truly amazing to awaken to no pain in my hands. I literally lay in bed first thing in the morning just making fists in disbelief - it is still shocking. I take 1/4 tsp of turmeric a day in my tea with VCO (virgin coconut oil) and one 3mg boron (chelated - dont know if that matters or not) a day. I hope you find your answer! Carly"

10/05/2010: Tom from Regina, Sk replies: "Pamela:

Have you tried anything from this site's Arthritis section here?:

http://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/arthritis.html

Not mentioned under that section is Niacinamide, the amide form of Vitamin B3. (I'm assuming it's arthritis you have, since trigger finger is almost never accompanied by many swollen painful knuckle joints! )

Once again, to one of Dr. Pauling's legacy sites:
http://www.orthomolecular.org/

Click on "Search" in the molecule picture there. Type in "Niacinamide Kaufman arthritis" into the search query box.

This first one looks to be the best info and detail:
The Pioneering Work of William Kaufman: Arthritis and ADHD
http://www.orthomolecular.org/library/jom/2003/pdf/2003-v18n01-p029.pdf

From Page 3:
"The (more frequent) 250 mg dose of niacinamide is 40 to 50% more effective in the treatment of arthritis than the (less frequent) 500 mg. Dose. In my 1955 paper (The use of vitamin therapy to reverse certain concomitants of aging. J Amer Geriatric Soc. 3:927-936) I noted that niacinamide (alone or combined with other vitamins) in a thousand patient-years of use has caused no adverse side effects. Please keep in mind niacinamide is a systemic therapeutic agent. It measurably improves joint mobility, muscle strength, decreases fatiguability. It increases maximal muscle working capacity, reduces or completely eliminates arthritic joint pain. Some joints are so injured by the arthritic process that no amount of niacinamide therapy will cause improvement in joint mobility, ...

Interesting tidbit here:
http://www.orthomolecular.org/library/jom/1997/articles/1997-v12n04-p195.shtml

Kaufmann was a very careful observer and showed clearly the significant therapeutic value of niacinamide. But 1949 was not the right year for such reports, for the wonder drug, cortisone, had just been found to rapidly relieve the symptoms of arthritis. Dr. Hench, who had done the basic work, received a Nobel prize and Merck and Company held the patents. There was a tremendous display of publicity about these wonder drugs and they became the standard for all the arthritides. The fact that cortisones do not help very much was discovered later in England when they were compared with aspirin in the first ever double blind experiments. Aspirin proved equally as effective. Also cortisone and ACTH made many patients psychotic. Dr. Kaufman's 1949 published book 'The Common Form of Joint Dysfunction' is even now still available in places on the net.

http://www.doctoryourself.com/JOM1.html

DOSAGE:Niacinamide is water soluble and has a half-life of 90 minutes I. E. The amount left unmetabolized in the body drops in half every 90 minutes. This explains the divided doses. That daily dosage is divided into equal doses for ingestion every 2-3 waking hours waking.

DOSAGE:
http://www.doctoryourself.com/kaufman5.html

Usually adequate in moderate joint dysfunction was the continuous ingestion of 150 mg niacinamide administered every 3 hours for 6 daily doses (900 mg/24 hours). In extremely severe and severe grades of joint dysfunction, 100-150 mg niacinamide were prescribed every hour (1500-2250 mg/24 hours), every hour and a half (1110-1650 mg./24 hours), or every two hours (800-1200 mg/24 hours), depending on the severity of the joint dysfunction, the more frequent schedule being used in more severe cases (97) (51). It has been found in the treatment of joint dysfunction that the manner in which the daily dosage of niacinamide is divided has an important bearing on the the therapeutic results achieved; e. G. , 300 mg niacinamide given three times daily (900 mg/24 hours) is inferior in its therapeutic action to 150 mg niacinamide administered every 3 hours for 6 daily doses (900 mg/24 hours)."

10/05/2010: Pamela from Marlborough, Ct replies: "Thanks for the advice, I will definitly try it as my hands feel just like you described, especially in the morning. Should I buy Tumeric in the spice area of the grocery store."