Hand surgery covers quite a range of procedures, which provide safe options to improve the function of your hand tremendously, when performed by an experienced hand specialist. Hand surgery recovery times vary a lot, but the procedures are generally considered extremely worthwhile, when patients look back on the experience. If non-invasive treatments haven’t worked for you, and haven’t provided long-term relief from your hand ailment, then hand surgery has the potential to change your life.
The Long and Short of Hand Surgery Recovery
Certain types of hand surgery, called percutaneous procedures, require only a needle to complete, and your hand surgeon will operate through the tiny perforation in your skin. With these, and many other types of hand surgery, you’ll be able and encouraged to move your hand almost immediately after surgery to promote circulation and get the healing process under way.
Example: Trigger Finger
One example of the more straightforward hand surgeries is trigger finger release. In this procedure, your hand surgeon “releases” tissue that has been “catching” on nearby ligaments or may have even gotten permanently stuck.
Your surgeon makes more room for the tissues to get past one another without sticking, and restores smooth finger movement. The recovery period for a minor hand surgery like this may be only about 2 days.
Example: Tendon Damage
Some hand surgeries require a traditional incision, typically hidden in the natural creases of the hand and fingers by a skilled hand surgeon with plastic surgery training. In some cases, your hand may be immobilized through part of the healing cycle using a splint.
More complicated hand surgery procedures, such as damaged or severed tendon repair, may require months for maximum recovery, which must occur incrementally. After more involved types of hand surgery, you may need weeks to months of occupational and/or physical therapy as part of your recovery. During the recovery period, you will return to activities gradually.
Early Treatment Brings the Best Outcomes
Whether your hand surgery involves a long or a short recovery, you’ll see improvement every day. The majority of hand surgery patients find that their prior hand ailments and symptoms, such as pain, weakness, deformed/enlarged joints or restricted movement, improve dramatically once recovery is complete.
For best results, see your hand doctor sooner rather than later, since early treatment typically gives you the most improvement. This does not mean, however, that you should give up on seeking treatment for an old injury or poorly healed broken bone. Patients are often surprised at the surgical and non-surgical options available when you consult an experienced hand surgeon.
Choose a Top Hand Surgeon for the Quickest Recovery
The very best hand surgeons plan your procedure around you: with your unique needs and goals firmly in mind. This is how your hand surgeon can minimize your recovery time: through careful surgical planning, along with meticulous technique.
Top hand surgeons use a delicate touch, so that trauma to your tissues is minimized, which can leave you with less inflammation than what is typical after surgery. Top hand surgeons pay great attention to preserving blood flow to the treated area, which gives the body what it needs to recover and remain healthy. These are just some of the methods that hand specialists use to shorten your recovery time.
Hand Surgery Recovery Details
Immediately after Hand Surgery
Your hand surgery will likely be an outpatient procedure, taking place in a well-equipped surgery center with sedation, local or regional anesthesia. Your hand will be bandaged after surgery and you may also have a splint immobilizing your hand, fingers, thumb and wrist in a bent or straight position. You may also have a drain tube in place.
Heading Home after Hand Surgery
A family member or friend must drive you home and you must keep your bandage/splint clean and dry. Cover it in plastic if you take a shower. (Ask your surgeon if it’s ok to take a shower or check your post-surgery instruction sheet.)
Next Day after Hand Surgery
Your friend will drive you back to your hand surgeon’s office for bandage (and drainage tube, if any) removal.
First 2 Weeks after Hand Surgery
Swelling and some pain are to be expected. You can control inflammation by propping your hand above your heart on a couple of pillows and you may have prescription pain medication, too. If you had percutaneous surgery (done with a needle), you may already be back at work! You can expect a few strange sensations in your hand or fingers and slight soreness.
For other hand surgeries:
- You may be instructed to wear your splint around the clock for awhile.
- Continue showering with a plastic bag over your surgery hand and wrist to keep it dry.
- Sutures will be removed by your surgeon.
- Care for your incision as instructed to promote healing and avoid infection.
- Watch for signs of infection: fever, excessive swelling, pain or bleeding. Call your surgeon if you notice anything that concerns you.
Weeks 3 through 5
Your incision may still be sore or tender and you may have some residual swelling and/or a pins-and-needles feeling in your hand/fingers.
- You may need to wear your splint only while sleeping.
- Hand/finger exercises may begin, which you were taught by your doctor—or you may start seeing a physical therapist.
- You’ll gradually notice that your hand gets more flexible, you will regain muscle strength and dexterity/fine motor movement.
- Do not to lift or pull with your affected hand until your therapist or surgeon gives you the ok.
- Do not increase your blood pressure or exercise until you get the ok.
- See your surgeon/physical therapist as instructed for follow-ups.
- Your hand surgeon will monitor and possibly help control scar tissue formation with cortisone shots or other treatment.
6 Weeks after Hand Surgery
Most hand surgery patients are back at work by now. You might consider returning gradually, with lighter duties or fewer hours until your hand surgeon gives you the ok. If your work requires heavy use of your hand, you may still need to stay home from work.
In the most complicated and serious hand surgeries, like flexor tendon damage, you might need another surgery for a tendon graft or to remove excess scar tissue in the surgery area. In most cases, however, you’re almost at maximum recovery and back to normal.
3 – 6 Months after Hand Surgery
Most patients with more complex surgeries have reached their maximum level of recovery by this time. Your hand surgeon should be available to you for questions if needed, no matter how long it’s been since your surgery.
What You Can Do to Shorten Hand Surgery Recovery Time
Following recovery instructions from your surgeon may sound obvious, but since hand surgery recovery in most cases is gradual, you need to stay on track with recovery. You may need aftercare such as seeing the hand therapist for physical or occupational therapy. You may also have homework, or exercises to do at home to improve your hand function.
We cannot overstate the importance of following all instructions when preparing for hand surgery as well. Things like quitting smoking or avoiding certain supplements leading up to surgery are also important. Be sure to follow the instructions given you by your hand surgeon and ask questions about anything you are not clear about. It really makes a great difference in your hand surgery recovery.
Be sure, as well, to choose an extremely well qualified surgeon, and one that you trust to perform your hand surgery. When you’re confident about your outcome, that fact can speed your healing and make the whole surgery experience (including recovery) shorter and more successful.
Find out About Your Hand Surgery Recovery Time
To learn how hand surgery might benefit your hand ailment, we urge you to contact us at Cohen/Winters Aesthetic & Reconstructive Surgery in Bergen County. We offer a personalized consultation, so please contact us today.
