Will a cortisone shot fix trigger finger?

In short

A cortisone injection is the standard of conservative treatment for trigger finger, and it often settles the catching without surgery. Dr. Knight says on video that you know within three to five days whether it is working. When it does not work, the next step is a small release of the pulley in the palm.

Written for patients by The Hand and Wrist Institute. Prepared for review by John T. Knight, MD. Last updated September 5, 2026How we write and review

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

What the shot is actually doing

Let's take a look at what is catching, because that explains what the injection can and cannot do. The tendon that bends your finger runs through a series of tight bands in the palm and along the finger, or what we call pulleys, and those bands hold the tendon down so it can pull the finger into a fist. From repeated use a small nodule builds on the tendon, and once that nodule is too big to slide easily it rams into the edge of the band and the finger snaps, clicks, or locks in a bent position.¹

A cortisone shot is placed into that sheath to bring the swelling down, so the tendon and its nodule can pass through the pulley again. It treats the inflammation and the crowding. It does not remove the nodule and it does not make the pulley any wider, which is why it settles some fingers for a long time and why others start catching again.

The shot is not the same as the surgery, and trigger finger is not the same as Dupuytren's

Two things get mixed up here. The first is what each treatment does. The injection reduces swelling inside a tunnel that is still the same size. The release, if it is ever needed, opens the tunnel permanently by dividing that one band, which is a different mechanical answer to the same problem.

The second confusion is the diagnosis itself, because both trigger finger and Dupuytren's disease give you a lump in the palm and a finger that will not straighten. Here is the test you can apply. With a trigger finger the digit catches and snaps, and you can usually push it straight with the other hand even though it hurts. With a Dupuytren's cord the finger is drawn down by a firm band running from the palm into the finger, and it will not straighten no matter who pushes on it.² A cortisone injection is a treatment for the first of those, not the second. This page is information rather than a diagnosis, and the exam is what sorts it out.

What to do first, in order

Dr. Knight runs the same ladder every time, and the injection sits third on it, not first.

1. Change the activity that is loading the tendon: long stretches of gripping, repetitive keyboard and phone use, tools that press into the palm.
2. Try an anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen for a mild, early trigger finger, and rest the hand.
3. A cortisone injection into the tendon sheath. Give it three to five days to declare itself.
4. Surgery only if conservative treatment fails, and that means dividing the band over the tendon through a small incision in the palm.

When to call us

• The finger is locking in a bent position and you have to pry it straight with the other hand.
• The finger has locked straight and will not bend.
• The catching has come back after an injection that had settled it.
• The palm is red, hot or swollen after an injection, or you run a fever.
• You have diabetes and a trigger finger, which is worth an earlier look rather than a later one.
• The finger has been stiff for months and is losing range even when it is not catching.