Nothing puts a pause on your life like surgery. Don’t let frustration get the better of you, though. You need to see the healing process through to the very end; only then can you get back to your life like it never happened. Wrist surgery recovery depends on the nature of the injury, but you’re probably looking at a few weeks of reduced activity. We know it sounds terrible, but it’s not a death sentence. This is just the challenge you have to face right now. The experts at Celebration Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Institute can help make a recovery as smooth as possible.
Wrist Surgery Recovery Do’s and Don’ts
Whatever the type of injury, listen to what your physician says like they’re preaching the Gospel. Seriously, this is one area in life where you don’t want to cheat. Otherwise, you could slow recovery and lose even more time doing what you want. Worse, you could lose motor function in the injured hand. Don’t even think about it.
Your physician will probably recommend that you:
- limit activity involving the hand
- apply compression therapy and cold packs
- return to activity very gradually
Do whatever you need to do to follow these rules for as long as your doctor tells you to. Our Celebration sports medicine staff has seen every type of case, and we want you to get back to doing what you love as much as you do.
Recovering From A Wrist Fracture
Bones can break in a million different ways, but they all take six weeks or more to heal as a general rule. Whether or not you need surgery, the cast or splint is going on, and it’s not coming off for a while. The nasty fractures can leave you wrapped in gauze for four, five, or even six months. That’s the kind of inactivity that requires physical therapy before returning to everyday life. Here at Celebration sports medicine, we’ll check in with you regularly and make updates to the timeline accordingly.
Carpal Tunnel, Arthritis, And Tendinitis
You may need surgery if the pain doesn’t go away with stretches and simple lifestyle changes. Carpal tunnel is the least fun of them, and we won’t try to make it sound pretty – recovery from surgery that relieves pressure on the median nerve takes 3-4 months. If you’re reading this and there’s tingling in your hand or wrist, you might need this operation. Prevent needing further treatment by taking regular breaks from any repetitive motion of the hand.
Inflammation of the tendon may also require surgery, and it will be similar to the carpal release operation (i.e., open-incision or endoscopic). Recovery time is generally shorter, however, at about two months. Not to scare you, but here at Celebration sports medicine, we will drive you hard to make sure you stick to that recovery timetable. Nothing is more important than your health. At the very least, you can know that you’re in safe hands.
Contact Us
Wrist surgery is nothing to joke about, and neither is wrist surgery recovery. If you’re feeling the aches, the pins and the needles, come in for a diagnosis. It could have a lasting impact on the rest of your life. Make sure you keep the mobility to do what you love for decades to come. Contact Celebration Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Institute today.