If you hear or feel a crackling or popping sound/sensation when you extend your finger or thumb, it is a good bet that you have trigger finger.  However, it is vital that you have this diagnosis medically confirmed, especially if you have not had the condition previously.  You need to rule out other, possibly serious, conditions.  Your fingers extend and bend by way of tendons, which are essentially flexible bands that stretch and retract to move the attached bones.  They are protected and lubricated by tendons sheaths (basically tubes).  If a tendon sheath becomes inflamed (due to repeated use or another medical condition), it can narrow and cause the tendon to scrape or even get caught in place, causing the locking, popping, and crackling sensations of trigger finger. Being female and/or over age 40, and having diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis can make you more susceptible to trigger finger.  Most often, though, it is suffered by people who use repeated gripping motions with their hand(s), such as carpenters, farmers, factory workers, and musicians. It is important to go to the doctor to diagnose trigger finger, because sometimes people mistake a fracture or dislocation for the condition.  Your physician can determine the severity and proper treatment of your condition, and can also rule out potentially-dangerous infections that can occur at the site of inflammation. Treatment for trigger finger can range from rest to surgery, depending on severity.  Splinting is a common first-level treatment, especially for milder forms of the condition.  Studies indicate that splinting for a period of around six weeks is roughly as effective as a cortisone shot in the joint, another common treatment for trigger finger.  There are several types of splints and you can splint your finger continuously or only during times of rest.  Talk to your doctor about the best treatment option for you. Before trying to splint your finger, confirm with your doctor that you can and should splint your affected finger(s) yourself.  Self-treatment without proper medical advice is not recommended.  Splint your finger temporarily until you can receive proper medical attention.  Do not engage in long-term splinting on your own initiative, however. Improper or prolonged splinting can cause joint damage, obstructed blood flow, and/or skin infections.
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One-sentence summary -- Visit your doctor. Discuss treatment options. Confirm that you can and should apply splints yourself.

Q: Your first resource should be your own buddies. Ask your friends if they've seen you and the girl together and ask their honest opinion about whether or not the girl has a crush on you. Your friends may have more perspective on whether the girl actually likes you, or if she's just playful and flirtatious with everyone. Ask them to be honest -- if they don't think she likes you, they should let you know.  Your guy friends may also know if the girl likes someone else instead of you. This could be helpful information before you try talking to the girl yourself. Just try not to ask anyone too chatty, or a guy who is very friendly with the girl. If you do, the guy may tell her that you asked, and he'll blow your cover. Asking the girl's friends if she likes you is basically as good as asking her yourself. But if you really trust one of her friends and don't think she'll report back to her friend, then go ahead and ask if the girl has a crush on you. Her friend will mostly likely know whether or not she likes you -- it'll just be a matter of whether or not she'll tell you. Don't make a big deal about it. Don't reveal your feelings about the girl. If you like the girl too and want to know her true feelings, don't be afraid to ask. Just find a time when you're both relatively alone and in a quiet place, and ask her if she has a crush on you. If you like her, you can even tell her first that you have a crush on her and want to know if she likes you too. Just speak calmly, make eye contact, and give her all of your attention to let her know she's important. But don't make it seem like too much of a big deal or you may scare her away.  If she does admit she has a crush on you and you like her, then ask her out on a date and see where it takes you. If she says she doesn't have a crush on you, react the right way. Don't get all upset or offended -- just play it cool and show her what a great guy you are.
A: Ask your friends. Ask her friends. Ask her.

Article: The Netherlands is part of the Schengen area of Europe, which includes a number of countries with a common visa and no border controls. You don’t need to worry about getting a visa if you are a citizen of one of the countries in the European Union, European Economic Area or Switzerland.  However, if you are from Croatia, a new EU member, you will still need a visa. If you have two nationalities and passports, you may need a visa, depending on which passport you use to enter the country. If you want to move to the Netherlands for three months or less, you can just apply for a short-stay visa. You will be able to live in the Netherlands for up to 90 days within a six-month period.  The cost for a short stay visa is sixty euros.  As long as your employer has a work permit in your name, you can work with this type of visa. You cannot apply for a residence permit with this type of visa. If you want to move to the Netherlands for longer than three months, you’ll need a long-term, MVV visa. You apply for the MVV visa at the same time as your residence permit. The process will be slightly different depending on where you are coming from. For the residence permit, you need to book an appointment with an office of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND).  If you are travelling from the UK, you can apply for a visa through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which has a Netherlands Visa Application Center. You don’t need a long-term visa if you are from the EU, USA, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, Switzerland or Vatican City. However, you’ll still need a residence permit from the IND. To make an appointment with IND, call +31 88 0430 430. They are open Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm. To see the cost of various long term visas, visit the IND website.  You don’t need a visa if you are travelling from one of the European Union or European Economic Area member states or from Switzerland. Visit a Netherlands Embassy close to you to ask about specific visa requirements for your situation. Prior to your move, you should also do a check up and get any health certificates you may require.  For instance, you should get routine vaccines like measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, varicella vaccine and your flu shot.  If you are not travelling from the US, you may need Hepatitis A, B and other vaccines.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Don’t worry about getting a visa if you are moving from within the EU. Apply for a C-visa for periods of less than three months. Apply for a long-term visa for periods of longer than three months. Visit the doctor and receive any necessary vaccinations you need.