Clinic cases

Trigger finger on both hands, moving freely again

B.W. · Female, age 51

This case was written by Dr. Laura Cowburn, Doctor of TCM and Registered Acupuncturist in Alberta.

At a glance

Two fingers on each hand were stuck in a bent position and hard to straighten. Treatment dissolved the nodules on the palm that were causing the trigger fingers, and the fingers move freely again.

Presentation

A 51-year-old patient had trigger finger, and the third and fourth fingers on both hands couldn’t straighten.

Diagnosis

Nodules had formed on the flexor tendons and were causing the fingers to lock in a bent position.

Treatment

  • Needling the corresponding toes — using Dr. Tan’s balance method, because the toes can balance the fingers
  • Bao Ci Fa (surround needling) — needles inserted around the edge of each target nodule
  • Home care — applying a topical Chinese herbal liniment (such as Zheng Gu Shui or Huo Luo You) and massaging the nodules on the palm, to help them dissolve faster

Result

  • Once the needles were inserted in the corresponding toes, the fingers could move freely. The problem came back at a milder level after each treatment and gradually stopped coming back.
  • The nodules gradually became softer and smaller and finally disappeared.

Additional notes

One session every two weeks.

This reflects an individual patient experience, not clinical trial data.

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