What is trigger finger?
Trigger finger, medically known as stenosing tenosynovitis, occurs when one of the tendons that bend the finger becomes swollen or develops a nodule, so it no longer glides smoothly through the pulley at the base of the digit. The finger catches, clicks or locks in a bent position, sometimes needing the other hand to straighten it. It most often affects the ring finger and thumb, is more common in women, in people aged 40 to 60, and in those with diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis or previous carpal tunnel syndrome.
Diagnosis is straightforward and clinical: the catching is usually reproducible in clinic, and a tender nodule can often be felt in the palm at the base of the affected finger. Imaging is rarely required.
Common symptoms
- Clicking or catching when bending the finger
- The finger locking in a bent position
- A tender lump in the palm at the base of the finger
- Pain when gripping
- Stiffness worse in the morning
- Occasionally the finger stuck bent, needing help to straighten
How long will you wait?
Routine NHS treatment of trigger finger, from GP referral through injection and on to surgery if needed, typically spans a few months, in line with a national median wait of 12.4 weeks and around 34% waiting over 18 weeks.
Privately, you can typically see a hand specialist within 3–7 days, often with a steroid injection at the first appointment, and surgery, if needed, usually within 2–4 weeks.
NHS England median referral-to-treatment wait: 12.4 weeks, with 2.5 million people waiting over 18 weeks (May 2026). Individual waits vary by trust and urgency.
Treatment options
- Splinting and activity change. Resting the finger and a short period of night splinting can settle mild, early triggering.
- Steroid injection. An injection around the tendon sheath resolves triggering in the majority of cases and can be repeated once if needed.
- Surgical release. A brief operation under local anaesthetic opens the tight pulley, giving a permanent cure in almost all cases.
What does private treatment cost?
As a guide, a private steroid injection typically costs around £250–£500, while self-pay trigger finger release surgery typically costs around £1,800–£2,800.
Does health insurance cover trigger finger?
Trigger finger is normally covered by private medical insurance as an acute condition, including injections and surgical release, where symptoms began after the policy started. Pre-existing triggering will usually be excluded at first. People with diabetes should be aware that while diabetes itself is treated as a chronic condition and excluded, a new trigger finger is generally covered as a separate acute problem.
Frequently asked questions
Will trigger finger go away by itself?
Mild, recent-onset triggering sometimes settles with rest and splinting, particularly if there is clicking without true locking. Established triggering rarely resolves on its own, and a locked finger held bent for months can develop lasting stiffness. A steroid injection is a simple, effective next step, so it is not worth putting up with it for long.
How effective are steroid injections for trigger finger?
Very. A single injection resolves triggering in roughly six to seven out of ten people, and a second injection helps some of the remainder. Results are somewhat less durable in people with diabetes or when several fingers are involved. If triggering returns after two injections, surgical release is usually recommended rather than repeated injections.
What does trigger finger release surgery involve?
It is a short day-case operation under local anaesthetic, taking around ten to fifteen minutes. Through a small incision in the palm, the surgeon divides the tight pulley so the tendon glides freely; you can move the finger straight away. Light use resumes within days, and recurrence after surgery is rare.
Related guides
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- Bunions (Hallux Valgus)
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Dupuytren's Contracture
- Frozen Shoulder
- Ganglion Cyst