I have a problem with the ring finger on my left hand which I think is due to some type of tendonitis and comes out when I play the whistle - I was busking tonight and was wearing tight gloves with the fingers cut off, and noticed my finger feeling much less inflamed and more free and easy to move. This made me wonder if you can get a hand brace that does the same thing only better. Any advice?
Take a look here:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=trigger+finger
Mike
Do you feel any knots in the tendon that runs up that finger? If so, you may have Dupuytrens Contracture. I have it in both hands, but I had my right hand operated on when I could no longer finger the E on the pipes.
Years ago I had a knot in the tendon at the side of my middle finger. The finger would lock with some regularity which was a real nuisance, but didn’t hurt. My doc called this “trigger finger” and recommended hitting it fairly positively with a small hammer - it worked and has never come back.
Obviously, yours may be more serious and this would be inappropriate.
Trisha
Yeah, you probably would only want to smack yourself in the hand with a hammer if your doctor told you too.
NOT! 
Don’t know if it will help you, but I have arthritis in my hands and run hot tap water over them before playing to get the swelling to go down.
If I didn’t know better, I’d think that your doctor had a thing against musicians! 
Hmmm, you weren’t playing in the waiting room, were you? 
Guys…this is a true tale. As it happens in those days the only music in my life was the in-the-ears rock concert variety. And doc didn’t know I shot rifle for Uni and did karate for fitness (so no wise cracks on the trigger finger, right?!).
Trisha
Are you in the US? I don’t know if my proposed solution is available to you, but here it is. (I’ve mentioned these before, but it’s been a while and you may not have seen it.)
Silver Ring Splints, see http://www.silverringsplint.com , are registered and trademarked medical devices designed to address problems like you describe, and more serious finger and hand problems caused by injury or arthritis. And they look really cool.
I use three regularly, usually while I’m typing, but also while flute playing (Boehm system). They prevent hyperextension of damaged end joints. The company seems to have developed a design to support almost any sort of problem.
The splints (sterling silver, but available in gold, with or without stone settings) must be prescribed and fitted by a hand therapist. Mine were covered by health insurance.
Hope this helps.
M
Marguerite, those things are too cool!! But darnit! I have no medical need for them. My name is Andrea and I am a ring-a-holic. 
I do think it’s wonderful that someone found such a stylish way for people to overcome difficulties!
Best,
Andrea
Stylish in an odd way, depending … One of my co-workers said it made me look like Seven Of Nine (one of the Borgs with metal fittings, from Star Trek).
He meant it as a compliment, I think. 
M