Hands that work again — in days, not months.

Yes, you’ll be awake — and comfortable. Only your hand or wrist is numbed (WALANT), like at the dentist. You may feel a brief sting from the numbing medicine and some pressure, but the area itself is numb. No IV, no sedation, no fasting beforehand.

Across published studies, the median return to normal activity is 2–3 days and return to work 3–5 days — including manual laborers. Dr. Morton will give you guidance for your specific job and hand.

Most patients follow a timeline like this. Dr. Morton will tailor it to your hand and your job.

• Procedure day: Your hand stays numb for a few hours. Rest it, keep it raised, and keep the bandage clean and dry. Over-the-counter acetaminophen or ibuprofen, if they’re safe for you, usually handles the soreness. Many patients drive themselves home; if it’s your dominant hand, you may prefer to bring a driver.
• Days 1–2: Use the hand for light everyday tasks like eating, dressing, and typing. Avoid heavy gripping and lifting.
• Days 3–5: Most people are back to work and normal daily activities. If your job involves heavy gripping or lifting, Dr. Morton may have you ease back in.
• Weeks 1–2: Soreness keeps fading. Keep the opening out of the pool, ocean, and hot tub until it has healed. Heavy lifting and sports return gradually as comfort allows.
• Weeks 2–6: Grip strength keeps improving. Night-time tingling often eases quickly, but numbness from long-standing nerve compression can take weeks to months to settle.

After trigger finger release, you can usually bend and straighten the finger right away, and moving it often helps. Some stiffness or swelling at the base of the finger can last a few weeks. We’ll see you for a follow-up visit. Call us if you notice fever, spreading redness, drainage, or pain or numbness that’s getting worse.

Every procedure carries some risk, and serious complications are uncommon with this one. Possible risks include:

• Infection, bleeding, or bruising
• Tenderness or stiffness around the treated area for a few weeks, including soreness at the base of the palm after carpal tunnel release (pillar pain)
• Injury to a nearby nerve, tendon, or blood vessel
• Symptoms that don’t fully go away or that come back, which occasionally means another procedure
• A reaction to the numbing medicine, which is rare

Live ultrasound lets Dr. Morton see the nerve, tendons, and blood vessels throughout the release. If your symptoms have been severe or long-standing, numbness and strength can take months to improve and may not fully recover. Dr. Morton will review your individual risks at your evaluation.

We’re in network with most insurance plans, including Kaiser Added Choice, and the procedure is typically covered by Medicare. We also accept workers’ compensation if your hand problem is work-related. Our team verifies your plan’s coverage before your visit so you know what to expect.

Paying on your own? Call (808) 439-6201 for an estimate. If you’re uninsured or not using insurance, you also have the right to a written Good Faith Estimate.

Usually not. High-resolution ultrasound lets us evaluate the nerve directly in the office, so most patients can skip the painful EMG needle test. If one is needed in your case, we’ll explain why.

That’s the most common story we hear. When conservative care stops working, releasing the ligament or pulley treats the cause rather than the symptoms — and it’s often when patients are the best candidates for this procedure.