The great thing about hand surgery is that your orthopedic surgeon may be able to treat your hand condition once and for all. However, after your surgery is complete your real test of patience comes into play; that is, the recovery phase.
Your recovery after hand surgery depends on various factors, including your body’s healing capacity, your lifestyle habits, any underlying conditions and the complexity and type of surgery. Following the care tips from your hand surgeon will also significantly reduce the healing time after hand surgery.
Let’s talk about the recovery process after hand surgery, how you can speed up your healing and where you can go throughout Maryland to see a skilled hand surgeon who can give you your hand functionality back again.
Timeline of the Recovery Process After Hand Surgery
Once your hand surgery is complete, the recovery process will include the following steps:
1. Post-Surgery Care to Begin Recovery
On waking up from the anesthesia, the medical staff in the recovery room will check your vitals and signs of bleeding or infection. You may need to stay overnight and will be discharged when you are stable.
If your hand surgery is an outpatient procedure, you will be able to go home the same day of the surgery, as long as there are no complications. The medical staff will check for signs of post-operative problems prior to discharge.
Your hand surgeon will also prescribe medications to manage pain and inflammation, and to prevent infection. The doctor will also provide you with instructions to care for your hand at home for a speedy and healthy recovery.
2. Recovery at Home
In order to enjoy as swift a recovery as possible, it is key to follow your hand surgeon’s guidelines. Take the prescribed medications as directed (take all of it, especially any antibiotics that will prevent an infection from developing) and keep your follow-up appointments with your hand surgeon. Watch for any complications, and inform your surgeon directly if you notice any signs of infection or fever.
You may also need to wear a splint for your hand to heal faster. Wearing a splint at night will ensure that you do not damage your hand while sleeping.
3. Continued Recovery and Physical Therapy
Following hand surgery, your surgeon will give you the following tips to help speed up the recovery process:
- Do not use your affected hand too much or too soon after surgery; use the other hand as necessary.
- Move your affected hand gently after surgery in order to prevent hand stiffness.
- Rearrange things around your house beforehand to keep everything accessible and safe while you recuperate.
- Avoid contact of your affected hand with hot water, soap, or irritants.
Your physical therapist will show you how to move your hand so it becomes stronger and more usable. The therapist will teach you strengthening and stretching exercises for you to continue doing on your own in order to keep your hands strong.
Hand Surgery in Maryland
If your hand function is impaired or you are experiencing chronic hand pain, see our board-certified hand surgeons at Greater Chesapeake Hand to Shoulder. Our skilled hand surgeons will help restore the function of your hand with a variety of hand procedures, which may include both surgical and nonsurgical treatment options.
If you have any questions about hand surgery or would like to schedule an appointment with our highly qualified hand surgeons, contact our friendly staff today by calling us at (410) 296-6232 or fill out our appointment request form online. We look forward to helping you use your hand again without pain and stiffness!
