I’m suffering from joint pain – could I have trigger finger? Dr Zoe answers your health questions

MORE than ten million of us suffer from joint pain, with one in six experiencing stiffness, exhaustion, aches and mobility problems.

Years of wear and tear mean that joint pain often starts in your thirties and forties .

Olivia West

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Dr Zoe helps a reader who is suffering from finger joint pain .

Q: MY left thumb is painful and the joint clicks all the time.

I believe I have trigger thumb after investigating it on the internet.

I had hoped it would get better but it has just got worse over the last two months.

What can I do about this, do I have to visit the doctor?

I have private medical insurance.

I’m 56.

A: Trigger finger or thumb can be a painful condition in which a finger or thumb clicks or feels as though it locks when you bend it towards your palm.

It’s caused by some thickening of a tendon that then catches.

It’s absolutely fine to self-treat these types of conditions for a short time as many do self-resolve.

But if it’s not getting better after a few weeks with simple home management, such as ice, paracetamol and ibuprofen, then it does need to be checked out.

If you have private medical insurance then you would be able to access a hand therapist very quickly who can assess you and offer treatment.

Sometimes using a splint to allow the thumb/finger to rest can be helpful, and other times a steroid injection to reduce swelling or a surgical procedure, which is highly effective, is advised.

Health tip

DO not start your morning by looking at your phone.

There are a number of reasons, but one is that it can trigger stress, which can then set your day up badly.

Instead, take in some morning sunlight.

It helps regulate your natural body clock, in turn helping you with sleep patterns.