Is trigger finger a form of arthritis?

In short

No. Trigger finger is not a form of arthritis. Both involve a buildup of inflammation, but in different places. In trigger finger the inflammation is around a tendon, where it slides through a tunnel in the palm. In arthritis the inflammation is inside a joint. Dr. Knight treats trigger finger in Southlake and Plano, Texas.

By The Hand and Wrist Institute Medically reviewed by John T. Knight, MD Reviewed November 4, 2026 Updated November 2, 2026How we write and review

Call (817) 382-6789 to have this looked at, or book online with Dr. Knight.

Tendon or joint

Bend a finger slowly and feel the base of it in your palm. The tendon that bends the finger slides through a snug tunnel of tissue there. That tunnel is called a pulley, and the one at the base of the finger is the one most involved in trigger finger.¹ When the tendon catches there as it slides, you get the click, the lock and the soreness at the base of the finger. Arthritis, as Dr. Knight puts it, is a buildup of inflammation inside the joint, where two bones meet.

Why the difference matters

Treatment goes where the problem is. For trigger finger that is the tendon and its tunnel. For arthritis it is the joint. The two are separate, but they can keep company: most trigger finger has no clear cause, and people with diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis are more likely to develop it.¹ Dr. Knight shows how trigger finger is treated in What is trigger finger and how is it treated?.

Trigger finger care in Southlake and Plano, Texas

A finger that clicks or locks is something Dr. Knight examines in the office, in Southlake on weekdays (our Southlake office) or in Plano on Tuesdays (our Plano office). For patients in Keller and Grapevine, Southlake is the nearer of our two offices. Same day appointments are often available at both. For the treatment itself, see our page on trigger finger surgery and treatment.

In Dr. Knight's words

"It is not. But similar to arthritis, it has a buildup of inflammation around the tendon, whereas arthritis is a buildup of inflammation in the joint."

When to call us

• A finger or thumb clicks, catches or locks when you bend it.
• You have to straighten a finger with your other hand.
• There is a tender lump at the base of the finger in the palm.