It 2 Year Old and Her Trigger Thumb

Updated on September 08, 2015
S.S. asks from Tonto Basin, AZ
10 answers

We are pretty sure that our daughter (now 2 years old) has a trigger thumb. I believe that it happened at her 1st birthday party (on accident) when one of the older boys ripped her hand out of a tight spot in one of her new toys, this happened twice and I was quick to send the boy to another activity. she never cried about it or showed any pain, but the following morning, her thumb was stuck in the position it has remained in for a year now.
Its in a bent position and won't move from that position. Altho for one day, prolly while she was playing, she somehow straightened it. (she kept showing it to me saying owey owey).But because she sleeps with her hands in little fists, the next morning her thumb was stuck in the bent position again. That was a couple months ago, it hasn't straightened since. Our pediatrician says that she may need surgery. And im trying to reach out to anyone who has ever gone threw this, how was your experience? how is your kid doing now? how much did it cost? recovery time? I've reasurched that this matter may resolve itself in time, has anyone had such luck?

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

I realize now I should have informed you all a little more...When she first got this injury, we immediately had it looked at. Its not jammed (but that was my original thought as well). Her thumb doesn't cause her pain, it's not red or swollen or discolored in any way, she uses it just fine, and every now and then notices that its different. To avoid putting our child threw surgery (because lets all be honest here, that's scary and medical Mal-practice is THE leading cause of death in the US), so yes we waited to see if it could resolve itself, like our pediatrician said it might. Yes i did my own research, I do not trust what someone says blindly. And now it's been more than long enough, and we're looking into having surgery. I wish our pediatrician had said something about stinting it, I would have preferred that to surgery. I need helpful answers, not criticism, please.

More Answers

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

Did you take her to the doctor when this first happened?
Having her thumb locked in one position for a year would have me worrying about her growth and development of her hand.
Muscles locked in one position may atrophy over time.

Read up about what this condition is.

http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00024

http://www.healthline.com/health/trigger-finger#RiskFactors3

http://parents.berkeley.edu/advice/health/triggerfinger.html

If it were my child, I'd have the surgery performed and I wouldn't have waited a year to have it done.
Any physical therapy that's needed to help her recover - do it.
She needs the use of her hand/thumb her whole life.

Additional:
Thanks for the additional info!
It sounds like you've been on top of the situation but your doctor didn't inform you of a splinting treatment option.
That would tend to make me think I need to get a new doctor.
If he didn't inform you of your treatment options I've got to wonder what else he's not covering.

This sort of surgery is easy peasey.
I had a few benign cysts removed from my left hand on two different occasions when I was a kid.
Back in the day (this was the 70's) they kept you over night in the hospital for everything.

Now they turn things around and try not to keep anyone over night unless it's something major and heck - even open heart surgery patients are home in less than a week.
Surgery is sometimes necessary and you do what you have to do for the sake of your kids - even swallow your fears so they don't freak out.
I know a guy whose 2 yr old had open hearty surgery to repair a hole in her heart - everyone's fine and living happily ever after.
Take her to a pediatric orthopedist and see what he has to say.

6 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.G.

answers from Portland on

Oh that's too bad :(

They should have started her on stretching exercises and using a splint unless her thumb is so painful she can't stretch it out at all. Then they would consider surgery.

My first thought when I read this was that she might have dislocated her thumb. I dislocated my finger as a child and it appeared bent. You mentioned the boy yanked her hand rather aggressively from the toy so that's why I wondered.

Have you seen someone in orthopedics? They would be able to give you a definite diagnosis if you're still not sure.

Wish her the best. Good luck :)

5 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.S.

answers from San Francisco on

Hey sweetie, not sure where you are doing your "research" but here's a link to the leading causes of death in the US:
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/leading-causes-of-death.htm
Please return to the doctor with your questions. I can tell simply based on your writing and spelling skills that you have very little education, and your child needs, no DESERVES, to be looked after by trained professionals, not someone who thinks medical malpractice causes more deaths than diseases and accidents!!!

4 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.R.

answers from Washington DC on

Tell -- don't ask, tell -- your pediatrician you want to be referred to a pediatric orthopedist. As soon as possible. Your pediatrician should have done so already but since he or she hasn't (as far as we know), then say that you need a pediatric orthopedist to see your child now, and don't let the pediatrician say "Oh, it can wait" or anything like that.

It's past time for your child to be seen by a specialist to determine exactly what's going on and whether or not this is "trigger thumb" or something else, and it's past time to start treatment IF that's needed. Don't wait for this to "resolve itself in time" based on what you've read online or in a book. Maybe that does happen, but you need to hear it from a specialist who has actually examined your child in person. I'm kind of appalled that your pediatrician didn't take this on more assertively and send you to a specialist already, if only to rule out anything serious. For the pediatrician to toss out things like "She might need surgery eventually" without saying or doing a lot more first is not helpful at all.

4 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

I've been treated for trigger finger 5 times in the last few years. Within 24 hours of getting a cortisone injection I was completely healed each time. (I get trigger finger because I am a glass artist and trigger finger is typically an overuse injury. I have never heard of an injury causing it. Also, when I have had it, it is extremely painful to the point that when my finger does move from a locked position I sometimes see stars. Really awful pain).

I am at a loss why the pediatrician and you would allow this to go on for a year. Your daughter needs to see a hand surgeon (orthopedic).

Re: cost...the first few times I had it it cost me $50 out of pocket. The last 2 times I had it I paid $200 out of pocket for the office visit and injection. Thank you Obama!!!

EDIT - when I first had trigger finger I didn't really know what was wrong with my finger so I went to my family doctor. He told me I had tendinitis and sent me to physical therapy. The physical therapist said any exercises he gave me could seriously injure the tendon. He told me I needed a referral to a hand surgeon. The hand surgeon diagnosed me, gave me an injection and like I said within 24 hours I was totally and completely healed.

Family docs are great for common infections etc. but for many things it is best to see a specialist.

3 moms found this helpful

T.D.

answers from Springfield on

i am shocked that you let it sit for a year. i would of been going to the pedi after a few weeks of a thumb not straightening.
do what the pedi says, follow thru with the therapies.
my grandpa (m) injured his and had troubles holding eating utensils, he always needed help to cut a steak to eat.... i hope you don't doom you daughter to a life of needing help to cut her meats to eat.....

3 moms found this helpful

T.S.

answers from San Francisco on

What did her pediatrician say, in response to all these questions?

2 moms found this helpful

C.T.

answers from Santa Fe on

Take her to an orthopedist (other name for them is orthopedic surgeon). My son was having foot pain off and on the last 4 months. The pediatrician doctor did an xray (nothing broken) and all he said was to rest and get new athletic shoes. Well this did nothing. We kept having him rest but it never got better. I finally went to an orthopedist and he asked a few questions, looked at it and pressed down in three locations asking if it hurt there (it did). Then he said it's definitely a classic case of achilles tendonitis. He gave my son a "boot" to wear for 2 weeks (to completely immobilize his foot) and now it is is completely 100% better. I wish I had just gone straight to the orthopedist. You daughter my not need surgery...and if she does it will help her (not lead to death). So, my advice is go to the specialist bc the pediatrician often gets things like this wrong. They just don't have the experience in this kind of injury.

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

O.O.

answers from Los Angeles on

"Prolly"?

No way on gods green earth would I expose it to-year-old to surgery for trigger thumb. I myself have been told I had that and I let it go and it resolved itself. My mother was also told she needed surgery on both phones for trigger thumb those also resolve themselves.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.S.

answers from Portland on

Personally, I would take her to the nearest Shriner's Hospital. They have the best Orthopedists they can get from around the world. My son is seeing one of them and he is amazing! Anyway, it can be self referral, just give them a call. They will give you an informed 2nd opinion, and they will give you your options. They will use insurance if you have it, but if not, then they don't charge anything. There are never any copays, and all follow up is the same way. When my son had scoliosis at 10 months, the pediatric ortho, supposed one of the best around, said she didn't know what to do but wait and see. I took him to Shriners and they put him in a body jacket, made special just for him, and kept checking on him over and over. 2 years later, his scoliosis is gone, and he is doing great. If you need information, please let me know!

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions