I had my thumb injected twice, 2 different doctors. The 2nd injection was better. different meds and my regular doc did it. I ASK for numbing before injections. It may take 5 more minutes out of their schedule but I ASK...

On my second, I too had to same painful effect for about 3 days... hurt like hell. It has done very well, with few flareups. I have used Lightz and patches and took a couple of Celebrex when it flared. By last fall, gardening and canning had caused and exacerbation of the triggering situation again. painful caused a lot of stress too.

FYI: Did you realize 2 injections is the recommended limit for thumbs? So be very careful. Next would be surgery to release the tendon. ooouch don't want that.

So I thought to myself when my surgeon/doc told me that was my limit, "Humm, I can go to Mexico and get it." Well, researching the "trigger thumb/finger" I read lots of info about 2 being the limit and how another would risk tendon spliting beyond repair. So be very careful and do get thumb therapy for strengthening.

I do feel a gristle/knot at the pulley sheath but it is not painful.

My personal thoughts on the cause of the triggering thumb is the scalenes more than TOS. My TOS surgeon/Dr. Atasoy told me (2004 or 2005) my right side was worse (I think he meant anatomically) but my left side hurt worse. I was actually considering having the barbaric surgery on my left side (2006ish). Dr. Atasoy shook his head and said he wanted to operate on the right side first. Puzzled me for years, but it is my right side ear (outpatient procedure in 2007) and right side thumb (injections in Fed and April 2008) that's suffered because of the TOS and scalenes. Had problems with right ear and both thumbs since MVA in Oct 2000. ear and thumb got attention at those dates.

The reason I think scalenes is more the cause, when I shouldn't eat peanut butter sandwiches after I've driven, I can't hear very well out of my right ear and my thumb just don't work right. When my scalenes calm down, it's not an issue with my right ear and thumb. I guess it's all related or involved...

(Broken Wings)

NOTE: My right thumb started triggering because of an IV that was placed in my LEFT hand for the outpatient ear procedure. Hard for anyone to believe, but that's a fact. Hubby knows. I woke the next morning after surgery with my left thumb, fingers, hand, wrist, arm, elbow flared and continued to move across shoulders and down right arm and landed in my right thumb and right thumb began triggering on the third morning. painful... I now know when I was complaining with my thumbs before and good docs were examinag and manipulating my thumbs, they were looking for the trigger effect so they could do something for me. no trigger =ed no help.