Managing your recovery after hand and wrist surgery
On this page you will find a list of advice to follow so that your recovery after hand and/or wrist surgery is as simple as possible.
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- Always keep your arm in a sling when you are standing. As far as possible, make sure your wrist is always higher than your elbow.
- At night, keep your forearm in an upright position, propped up with pillows. At the very least, raise your hand on a cushion.
- Massage each finger of the operated hand, one after the other, working from the fingertip towards the wrist.
- Keep your fingers mobile with flexion (closing) and extension (opening) exercises, with your hand raised. Do these exercises several times an hour, as fully as possible.
- Apply an ice pack to the wrist, hand and fingers as often as necessary, avoiding direct contact with the skin.
- Do not leave the clinic without enough pain relief medication to last until you are back home.
- Use the operated hand as often as possible in everyday activities, within the limits of pain.
- Do not get the scar wet during the first 15 days. Hand sanitiser gel can also be useful for hand hygiene.
- Massage the operated area and the scar several times a day from the 15th day after the operation.
- Avoid long car journeys, as the vibrations could bring the pain back.
- Be careful around other people, especially on public transport and in shopping centres. And beware of handshakes!
- Watch our video (in French) with advice after wrist surgery.