What can I expect after wrist surgery with plate and screws?
Pain and Swelling Post-Surgery After your wrist surgery, you are likely to feel some pain, aching, and swelling in the wrist. Your doctor will prescribe medications and other treatments to help with these symptoms.
How long after having a plate in wrist can I drive?
Conclusions: Most patients could safely return to driving within 3 weeks of surgery. Pain was the primary limiting factor affecting driving ability. Safe return to driving may be warranted within 3 weeks of distal radius volar plate fixation in some patients.
How long does it take to fully recover from wrist surgery?
For most people, wrist surgery recovery times range from a few weeks to several months. The bone itself may heal within a month or two, but fully recovering from the surgery or the injury can take 4 to 6 months. Consult with your doctor to get a more specific recovery timetable for yourself.
How long after wrist surgery can I move my wrist?
Most patients will be able to perform most activities of daily living at about 6 weeks but with residual stiffness, with recovery of about 50% of their normal wrist motion. At about 3 months, most patients have regained most of their motion in their hand and wrist as well as strength.
Why are fingers stiff after wrist surgery?
Stiffness. Stiffness may be due to swelling, scar tissue or immobility and will be made worse by infection or other complications. I will refer you to a specialised hand therapist to optimise your recovery and allow for safe mobilisation.
How long will my hand be swollen after wrist surgery?
Swelling is normal after hand surgery, and it typically lasts for about one week. Reducing swelling will not only help ease your pain, but it will also help you heal.
How long after wrist surgery can I start physical therapy?
The wrist is usually immobilized for several weeks during this process, and exercises to strengthen the wrist typically begin about 6-8 weeks after surgery; however, some suggest that this period of waiting is not necessary.
How long after wrist surgery can I move my fingers?
The fixation implants will hold the broken pieces in good position so that you can start moving the fingers and wrist during the approximately 6-8 weeks that it takes for the bone to heal.
Why are my fingers stiff after wrist surgery?
Finger stiffness after treatment of skeletal trauma to the hand is a challenging problem frequently faced by hand surgeons. In this setting, fingers can become stiff from joint contractures and/or from adhesions of the tendons to the surrounding soft tissues, bones, or hardware.
What is the fastest way to recover from wrist surgery?
Top 5 Tips for Recovery from Wrist Surgery
- Elevate your hand to decrease swelling.
- Begin mobilizing fingers as soon as possible to avoid stiffness.
- Ice to reduce inflammation.
- Attend physical therapy with a Certified Hand Therapist.
- Follow your surgeon’s recommendations for full activity.