Does Glucosamine Chondroitin Work for Trigger Finger?

Disclaimer: Initially drafted by AI, this article was edited by a human author to ensure accuracy and quality.

The Short Answer

The combination of glucosamine and chondroitin is popular for many joint conditions, one of them is trigger finger. But does it really work? Well, it does, just don’t expect these two compounds to do miracles on their own. Glucosamine and chondroitin work by improving collagen production and cartilage repair, which helps to reduce some of the symptoms you’d associate with trigger finger, including pain and poor mobility. Glucosamine chondroitin should also help you with other osteoarthritis-related conditions, including knee and hip pain. Again though, for substantial, long-range joint health support, these two ingredients need to be supported by other compounds such as curcumin, bromelain, selenium, and MSM.

What is Trigger Finger?

Trigger Finger is an injury to the extensor tendons at the base of the fingers. The condition makes it hard – sometimes even impossible – to fully straighten or bend your fingers. It sounds unpleasant, and many people who have it say it really is!

Trigger Finger is caused by proximal tendons being trapped under a tightened flexor tendon. The most common form of Trigger Finger affects the thumb and index finger. It can be painful, especially if you try to bend your fingers. It is a fairly common condition, with an estimated 4% of people suffering from it at some point in their lives. So, what does a trigger finger look like?

People who have a “trigger finger” will have a swelling of the extensor tendons at the base of their fingers. Trigger Finger is diagnosed if the pain is present, and there is no history of an injury that would cause tendon swelling. The treatment options for Trigger Finger range from rest to surgery. In short, the trigger finger looks like a bent finger, with a swollen tendon at the base. The common causes of a trigger finger are repetitive hand movements, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis (especially in the wrists), or injury. The treatment options for Trigger Finger range from rest to surgery.  It all depends on how bad it is and what you fancy in terms of treatments.

As for supplements? There are quite a few of them that are touted as helpful for trigger finger, one of the more popular combinations include glucosamine chondroitin. But how can they help you? Let’s start by looking at the individual benefits of glucosamine and chondroitin for trigger finger.

Glucosamine and Trigger Finger

Glucosamine is a natural substance that is made from the shells of crabs and lobsters. It has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine to treat arthritis, gout, and other joint pain. Glucosamine can help with trigger finger by reducing inflammation and pain. It also improves mobility and flexibility of the fingers.

There are very few risks you’ll hear people talking about with glucosamine supplements, namely stomach upset or allergic reactions. But generally, it’s a safe supplement.

Try glucosamine supplements before resorting to surgery. Maybe you’re suffering from severe arthritis and your hands are so painful that they cannot even lift flower vases or squeeze toothpaste. But before deciding on surgery, try glucosamine supplements to see if they will help relieve the pain. Trigger finger can be alleviated by glucosamine not just in terms of pain but also the reduction of the appearance of bent finger. But it depends on the person – for some people it unfortunately doesn’t work and stronger alternatives are needed.

Some people who use glucosamine for trigger finger may find that the movement sensation in the finger is less sensitive and it doesn’t bother them as much.

The effects of glucosamine extend far beyond just trigger finger, though. Glucosamine has been shown to help with arthritis as well as more general aches and pains. It is said to increase the body’s production of collagen, which aids in promoting healthy joints. Glucosamine is also thought to help reduce joint pain by increasing the speed of recovery time after an injury.

Chondroitin for Trigger Finger

As we’ve repeated, trigger finger is a condition where the finger or thumb cannot be straightened. It is often caused by an injury to the tendons in the fingers.

The most common treatments for trigger finger are steroid injections, splinting, and surgery. However, a non-invasive treatment option can be supplements like chondroitin in some cases.

Chondroitin works by reducing inflammation and improving blood flow to the area of injury. Chondroitin can help reduce the symptoms of trigger finger by improving the flexibility of the affected finger while also helping to heal muscle spasms.

One treatment that you should try in combination with chondroitin is massage. Trigger finger massage can help reduce muscle spasm and numbness, relieve pain, and improve recovery time.

Massage techniques include firm pressure work to release trigger points, gentle rolling for soft tissue mobilization, and stretching techniques to increase range of motion. Deep tissue massage may help reduce the risk of nerve damage and ulnar nerve palsy associated with trigger finger. Combine this with chondroitin and other anti-inflammatory supplements like curcumin, and your chances of recovery are far higher.

Okay, we’ve established that both glucosamine and chondroitin can be somewhat helpful for trigger finger. So this naturally leads us to the question: is the glucosamine chondroitin combination even more effective?

Can Glucosamine Chondroitin Help With Trigger Finger

Glucosamine and chondroitin are two substances that are often taken together in order to help with joint pain. However, there is no strong evidence that they can help with trigger finger. At least not substantially. As we said, while glucosamine and chondroitin may be helpful for some symptoms that are related to trigger finger, then don’t deal with the condition per se.

But it’s not just the trigger finger. The research on the use of glucosamine and chondroitin for the treatment of arthritis is mixed. Some studies show a decrease in pain while others do not show any improvement at all. The studies that did show improvements were small and had a high risk of bias.

Trigger finger is a condition where there is an intermittent catching or locking of the finger flexor tendon sheath, which causes pain, swelling, and limited movement of the digit [1]. There are no robust, strong studies showing glucosamine and chondroitin as a treatment for trigger finger.

That being said, there are some people that may experience some benefit from the combination of glucosamine chondroitin for their trigger finger. This is because the combination works better than either compound alone. It’s been theorized that Glucosamine Chondroitin can alleviate a trigger finger by helping to maintain healthy joint cartilage. They also reduce inflammation to an extent, which can in turn reduce your finger pain.

There are two forms of Glucosamine Chondroitin that you can buy in supplement form: powder and liquid. There’s no difference between the two forms as far as trigger finger is concerned, but liquid is more convenient to use and is easier on the stomach than the powder form. Vitamin C is another necessary nutrient that aids in the production of collagen, which helps the body hold together and support joints. You may be able to enhance the effectiveness of this vitamin by taking up to five grams each day in supplement form. 

The bottom line is, you should try these two supplements for yourself. Studies are inconclusive but showing that glucosamine and chondroitin, both taken alone and together, can help with conditions related to trigger finger.