Trigger Finger

In diabetes, the accumulation of Advanced Glycation Products (AGEs) causes the tendon sheath and tendon collagen to harden, and impaired microvascular circulation delays the resolution of local inflammation. For this reason, the rate of tendon sheath hypertrophy is faster than in the general population, and multiple trigger fingers (multiple trigger fingers) occurring simultaneously in several fingers are common. If blood sugar is not controlled, the effect of steroid injections is shortened, and the recurrence rate increases.

Perspective of a Korean Medicine Clinic

Korean medicine views diabetes-related trigger finger as a condition resulting from a combination of excessive dampness and phlegm in the spleen and stomach and weakness of the liver and kidneys. When the functions of the spleen and stomach, responsible for digestion and absorption, and the liver, which nourishes muscles and tendons, are both impaired, the nutrient supply to tendon tissue and the elimination of waste products are simultaneously reduced. At Dongjedang, we directly resolve tendon adhesions using needle acupuncture while simultaneously administering constitution-tailored herbal prescriptions that clear dampness and phlegm through internal treatment and restore Qi and blood circulation. Through this approach, we aim to extend the recurrence cycle by promoting both local treatment and systemic metabolic improvement.