Trigger finger: A sensation of resistance as if pulling a trigger, swelling around the fingertips
Dr. Nguyen Thi Bao Thua shared with Thai online media Sanook the case study of a 44-year-old male resident of Hanoi, Mr. Hwang (alias), who came in for a health check due to joint pain and swelling.
Mr. Hwang’s tests showed no abnormalities in his bones or joints. However, the doctor discovered that all ten of his fingers exhibited symptoms of trigger finger syndrome.
Trigger finger syndrome happens when a nodule or ulcer forms on the tendons used to bend the fingers, and the patient might feel a resistance similar to pulling a trigger.
Mr. Hwang’s fingers were reportedly shaped like drumsticks, and he described experiencing muscle pain in his hands, shoulders, and fingers.
Mr. Hwang also frequently reported chest tightness and shortness of breath. The doctor recommended a chest X-ray and blood tests upon hearing this, and a CT scan of the lung revealed a 0.47×0.9-inch tumor in the right upper lobe of Mr. Hwang’s lung.
Professor Nguyen Huay Nam, a director of a public hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, also mentioned that swelling around the fingertips can be a sign of lung cancer.
The professor further explained that the skin under the nails becomes soft, the skin next to the nails starts to shine, and the nails look more curved than usual from a side view. Eventually, some fingers will begin to swell as fluid accumulates in the soft tissue of the fingers.
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