Thread: Trigger thumb
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Old 05-21-2010, 06:20 PM
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mtomaino mtomaino is offline
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Default Most Trigger Digits are not caused by Diabetes

Thank you for your question. In short, absent other issues that might make you worry about having diabetes such as: frequent urination, excessive thirst, extreme hunger,unusual weight loss, increased fatigue, irritability and blurry vision--the mere fact that you have a trigger digit probably does not warrant a special trip to your internist to check for diabetes.

Trigger digit is not all that uncommon, and can be successfully treated with a corticosteroid injection in the office. Most of the time, 1-2 injections work---but there is some data that suggests that the "injection approach" is less successful when diabetes is the cause.

In my practice I generally try 1-2 injections, even in patients with diabetes---because it can work. The only caveat is in patients with diabetes who have a problem with cortisone---increased blood sugars for example. In these cases I am more likely to recommend surgery earlier.
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