You have been treated for a Hand and/or Wrist Injury. You have been thoroughly examined and are now considered fit to be discharged. The following will aid your recovery.
Advice For Patients With Hand Or Wrist Problems
Early Stage
It is most important to prevent or reduce swelling in your hand. Any swelling will tend to cause the small joints of your fingers and hand to stiffen up. This severely reduces the function of your hand.
Rest with your hand in Elevation – this allows gravity to drain any swelling. Prop your hand and arm on pillows, so that your hand is above your shoulder.
Never allow your hand to hang down as this will increase pain and swelling.
Ice therapy – put ice cubes into a washing-up bowl and fill with cold water. ‘Dunk’ your hand and squeeze a sponge rhythmically for 10 minutes, or until the skin turns pink. Alternatively, place a packet of frozen peas inside a wet towel and wrap around the whole hand. Repeat every 3 hours.
Do not use ice therapy if:
- You have a skin abnormality – poor circulation, or thin, flaky, shiny, dry skin.
- Your skin sensation is numb or diminished.
- You have sickle cell anaemia or Raynaud’s disease.
- It makes your symptoms worse.
- You have an open wound.
Exercises – regular, controlled exercises will prevent stiffness and encourage good healing of the damaged structures. Do each of the exercises below 10 times every hour.
- Only move to the point where the pain starts.
- Clench and stretch your fingers rhythmically for 2 minutes – this increases the circulation and reduces swelling.
- Try to touch the lowermost part of your palm with the tips of your fingers.
- Try to touch the uppermost part of your palm with the tips of your fingers.
- Try to touch the base of your little finger with the tip of your thumb.
- Stretch your fingers and thumb as wide as possible.
- With elbows tucked into your sides, turn palms upwards and then downwards.
- Bend the wrist forwards and downwards.
- With your hand flat on the table, raise your elbow to bend your wrist backwards.
- Bend your wrist sideways, towards the thumb then the little finger.
Late Stage
As the pain and swelling reduce, you can gradually resume your normal activities. Mix periods of activity with rest initially. Let your pain be your guide – if the pain goes within 5 to 10 minutes of the activity, it is acceptable. If the pain persists, the movements deteriorate and the joint becomes swollen, you are not ready for that activity yet. Continue the exercises until you have as much movement as the opposite hand.
If there is persistent restriction of movement. then use your other hand to ‘nudge’ into the painful stiffness.
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