fingers 'catching'

[Vannah R]

I have a client that has a 'catching' in his fingers. He has a history of multiple back surgeries, in all three regions of his back-lumbar, thoracic, cervical. He was in a car accident a few years ago resulting in the cervical surgery and arm pain. He since he has had bilateral carpal tunnel surgery and has done PT for both his neck and hands. I used to work as a PT aide and saw him during the neck rehab but not the hands.

He didn't get much relief from the PT but does feel better with massage. He was referred by his MD a few months ago and we've been working 3 times a week. He has had a lot of relief in his back and neck, but continued pain. The biggest relief has been in his arms, which i think is coming a lot from the neck area. He used to have more 'catching' in his fingers but now it's just his pinky finger on the right hand.

He is the one that describes it as 'catching' but i don't really have a better word...when he bends his pinky it catches when totally bent and will not straighten out right away, and when it does it almost snaps open. The other fingers have quit doing this for the most part. I'm not sure if i need to just keep working on the neck and arms or if anyone has any other ideas what could be causing this and what to work on to make it better.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated! Thanks