TRIGGER HAPPY

TRIGGER HAPPY?

My mum came to me with her right index finger unable to close and extend smoothly. It was like a stiff gear shift getting stuck at third or fouth gear. It was funny looking as she could close all her fingers but when she open her fingers the index finger refused to cooperate while the rest extended fully. Sometimes it will flex midway and just gets stuck. This medical condition is call 'trigger finger 'or 'stenosing tenosynovitis ' whiich I will not attempt to pronounce in case I get 'trigger tonque'.

Trigger finger is caused by local swelling from inflammation or scarring around the tendons that normally pull the affected digit inward toward the palm (flexion). Pain can occur at the base of the finger of palm itself. A majority of patients with rheumatoid arthritis have inflammation around the tendons of the palm of the hand that could develop into trigger finger.

I used medical qigong to loosen the tendons by reducing the inflamation from the tip of the affected finger to the base of the palm. After 20 minutes the pain was gone and the finger movement was loosen but there was still occasional stuck movement. The next session the finger could extend without getting stuck but some stiffness came back. After the third session there was no longer stiffness and she could repeatedly close and extend her fingers without problem. The treatment was basically to reduce the swelling so that it no longer 'grips' the finger from extending. Qigong is very impressive when applied for swelling. I had a case when this women came with her left leg swollen all the way to her thigh. After 30 minutes  she could  squat and stand up and her swelling had reduced by 30%.  She soon recovered after 2 sessions but her children did not believe such results were possible even with their mother's testimony. Well I guess seeing is believing (her children did not see her original condition).

My retirement home doctor one day came with his hand partly bandaged. He had a minor surgery for trigger finger. He said  he normally treats his patients with drugs and cortisal injection around the tendons (ouch!) but it did not work for him. When a trigger finger persists after two injections and is not responsive, surgical procedures to ultimately remove the inflamed or scarred tissue are considered. Now you may have a painless option before going for  injections or even surgery - medical qigong! Trigger Happy!

With Happiness

Isaac Lim