How do you sleep after hand surgery?

The best way to do this comfortably is to lie flat on your back with your hand resting on a few pillows. Elevate your hand for at least three days after surgery.

How do you sleep with your hands elevated after surgery?

Your surgeon might teach you the “hand above elbow, elbow above heart” rule. When sleeping, it may help to use a large mound of pillows, either beside you or on your chest, to keep your hand and wrist in this elevated position.

What can you not do after hand surgery?

Using the hand too much and too early following surgery. Not using the hand at all following surgery. This often results in problems with stiffness. Not elevating the hand as instructed to minimize swelling and improve healing.

How long should you keep your hand elevated after surgery?

Keep your hand elevated above the level of your heart for 3-5 days. While sitting in a chair or lying in bed, place your arm on pillows to keep it elevated. While walking around, keep your hand elevated on your opposite shoulder. You may discontinue elevation when lowering the hand no longer causes it to throb.

What helps pain after hand surgery?

Elevate your arm and hand

Continue to elevate the hand if swelling or pain persists after 3-5 days. Move your unaffected joints on the surgical side as much as possible to help with swelling and prevent stiffness. For example, if you had surgery on your thumb, then move your shoulder, elbow, wrist and other fingers.

Sleeping positions after surgery

How should I elevate my hands while sleeping?

Positions in bed

Lie down on your back, and elevate your affected arm on 1 to 2 pillows. If your hand is more swollen than the rest of your arm, elevate your hand on a larger pillow than the rest of your arm.

What is the fastest way to recover from hand surgery?

Rest and Elevation Are Crucial

We'll ask you to keep your hand and wrist elevated above your heart to reduce swelling and pain. The more often it is elevated in the days after surgery, the faster you will heal. Pillows stacked on your bed, couch or recliner will do the trick.

How do you shower after hand surgery?

To take a shower safely: Before you shower, wrap your operated arm or hand in plastic (such as a plastic bag) to protect the area. Remove the plastic wrap after your shower. Keep the dressing on until it is taken off by your surgeon or the stitches have been removed.

How long after hand surgery can I drive?

In general, most people are able to: resume light activities, such as using a keyboard or writing with a pen, after 6 to 8 weeks. drive a car, motorcycle or heavy goods vehicle (HGV) after 8 to 10 weeks.

How do you move your fingers after surgery?

Finger Bend Exercise – Extend your fingers, keeping them straight. Now gently bend them at the knuckles as much as possible. Then strengthen your fingers and repeat 50 times each hour. The purpose of this exercise is to improve muscle strength and range of motion.

How much pain is there after hand surgery?

Mild to severe pain may be expected after many types of hand surgeries. Pain medications may be given to help alleviate the discomfort. The following are some of the other possible outcomes that you may be told to expect following hand surgery: Your hand may be immobilized in a bandage or splint after surgery.

Can you use your hand after hand surgery?

A hand surgery patient should expect a recovery period of several weeks or months, depending on the complexity of the surgery and their body's capacity to heal. During recovery, patients should refrain from using their hands in any manner not approved by their surgeon.

What is the most common hand surgery?

Carpal tunnel surgery is one of the most common hand surgeries performed because carpal tunnel syndrome is a common condition. Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when swelling around the wrist tendons puts pressure on the median nerve and tendons running through an actual tunnel to the fingertips.

Where to put your hands when you sleep?

Try not to tuck you hand under your pillow or your head, this is usually a bad posture. Try to keep the arm lower than at a right angle to your body (the lower the better normally but don't put your arm flat under your body as you will squash the shoulder). With the bad arm uppermost, use a pillow to rest the arm on.

What helps swelling after hand surgery?

Use Ice Packs and Cold Compresses

Cold compresses are excellent for keeping the swelling down and controlling inflammation after surgery. Be sure to apply these ice packs as directed by our team. For most patients, a 20-on and 20-off approach is helpful.

How do you wrap your hands after surgery?

If you are treating a hand wound or burn, rinse the affected area and apply a sterile gauze dressing before wrapping your hand in a bandage. Open the roller bandage, and start with the end of the roll at the inside of your wrist. Wrap the bandage twice around your wrist. The material should be flat against the wrist.

When do you start physical therapy after hand surgery?

After surgery you can expect to have pain, swelling and inflammation. You will also be expected to begin physical therapy the day of or day after your surgery.

What can you do at home after surgery?

Can you drive with stitches in hand?

The DVLA rules state that patients can drive after hand surgery when they are safe to fully control the vehicle. You surgeon will give you advice and guidelines but it is your responsibility to drive only when you feel you have recovered sufficiently to be in full control of your car.

Do you need a cast after hand surgery?

Depending on what is needed for your particular surgery, your surgeon may recommend that you return to the office after a few days for a dressing change or a change to a full cast. A cast is applied by wrapping fiberglass tape or plaster around your hand, wrist, or arm.

Do you get put to sleep for hand surgery?

In most hospitals, surgery on the hand and wrist is usually performed using regional anesthesia and intravenous sedation, or general anesthesia. Patients must undergo preoperative tests, fast starting the night before, and spend an hour or more in a recovery room.

How long does hand surgery take?

Some hand surgery can take as little as 20 minutes, on the other hand some intricate surgery can take much longer – it will depend on what needs to be done. Many of the operations can be performed as day-cases, though this will depend on each individual patient's requirements and the complexity of the case.

Is hand surgery serious?

What are the risks of hand surgery? Most surgery carries the risks of anesthesia and bleeding. Additional risks associated with surgery depend greatly on the type of surgery being performed and may include: Infection.

Why do surgeons raise their hands?

Why do surgeons put their hands up after scrubbing? Surgical scrubbing is the removal of the germs and bacteria as possible from the bare hands and arms. After scrubbing, keep both hands above waist and below neckline.

What happens after hand surgery with pins?

In general, the pin sites need to be kept dry for a while after they have been put in place. Ask your doctor if and when you can swim while the pins are in. Prop up the pin area on a pillow, if the pin is on your arm or leg. Try to keep it above the level of your heart.