Thomas* admitted he was nervous heading into orthopedic hand surgery a few months ago. He had severely fractured his hand in a freak biking accident, and his doctor warned that a simple cast would not be enough for the bone to heal correctly. Thankfully, the procedure went well, and recovery was a breeze. Still, even with everything going according to plan, Thomas could not help but worry about the possibility of reinjury.
It was not that he feared another accident—Tom’s real concern was missing more time from his job in building and construction. Lifting materials, handling tools, and gripping ladders were all part of the job. People counted on him, and while he was eager to return to the everyday grind, he did not want to hurt himself and start the process all over again.
These are all common concerns. After all, we use our hands for almost everything in daily life—typing, cooking, lifting, or even just opening a door. It is easy to take how naturally they work for granted. That is, until an injury and subsequent orthopedic hand surgery remind us just how much we rely on them. The good news is that the risk of reinjury after orthopedic hand surgery can be low if you follow a few simple precautions.
With the right combination of rest and strengthening exercises, you can protect your healing hand, regain strength and mobility, and return to your daily activities without unnecessary setbacks.
Understanding Orthopedic Hand Surgery
The first thing to realize is that hand surgery is not a bad thing. In fact, it is one of the best ways to fully recover and limit the chance of lingering pain or reinjury. Approximately 1.77 million minimally invasive hand surgery procedures are performed annually in the United States. Rather than dealing with large incisions and significant scarring, many of these procedures use cameras and tiny instruments the size of a pencil to minimize incision size. Surgeons then rely on video-assisted equipment to visualize and magnify the internal structures, providing a more accurate assessment of the internal damage and surgical precision.
In most cases, patients can return home the same day as their appointment. And the results are almost always faster healing, increased range of motion through physical therapy, and a quicker return to everyday activities.
In Tom’s case, it was a fractured hand from an accident. But orthopedic hand surgery can treat a variety of conditions:
- Torn tendons and ligaments
- Fractures and dislocations
- Scarring or tissue overgrowth
- Injuries that have caused deformities
- Bone spurs
- Arthritis
- Infection
- Impingements
Approximately 1.77 million minimally invasive hand surgery procedures are performed annually in the United States.
Once your surgery is complete and your hand feels like new again, it can be easy to think that you can simply go back to everything you have been doing without any repercussions. Often though, there will need to be a ramp-up time where you gradually work back to full strength. Do not get us wrong; your orthopedic surgeon at Fort Worth Hand Center did a fantastic job and is confident that your hand is as good as new, and reinjury will not be a concern. But even they may tell you to ease back into everyday activity—just to be safe.
Whether you are getting back to a physically demanding job or just trying to return to your regular daily routine, taking a thoughtful, gradual approach can help ensure lasting results and reduce the risk of setbacks.
Follow These 6 Tips To Avoid Reinjury After Orthopedic Hand Surgery
- Trust your surgeon’s post-operative plan — More than trusting what your orthopedic surgeon has to say about your recovery, you need to follow their suggested recovery plan and timeline. If your surgeon says to avoid lifting anything for a few weeks, do it. If they tell you to wear a splint, do not take it off just because you think you are fully healed. If they give you a list of stretching and strengthening exercises to do in between physical therapy appointments, do not slack on them. Your surgeon’s plan is more than just a recommendation. It is designed to protect your healing hand so that you do not have any setbacks.
- Watch for warning signs — If you are experiencing lingering pain post-surgery that does not match what your doctor said would happen, or there is unusual swelling, redness, or stiffness, it is better to keep a log of what is happening and communicate that to your doctor and their medical team. Every so often, there can be unforeseen complications following orthopedic hand surgery, and the quicker you recognize there is a problem and seek help, the better.
- Do not rush your recovery — To piggyback on the first tip, it is important that you do not try to do too much too quickly. You may be following your doctor’s physical therapy orders, and you may even be feeling great in terms of pain management, range of motion, and overall strength. But you are not quite out of the woods and could risk reinjuring your hand if you return to sports, hand-related work, or heavy lifting too soon. Tendons, ligaments, and small bones take time to regain full strength, especially after orthopedic hand surgery.
- Physical therapy is crucial — The goal of physical therapy is to restore hand mobility, strength, and functionality while at the same time reducing stiffness and pain so that you feel as good as new. One way to impede this process is to skip sessions, cut corners, or not perform prescribed exercises as intended—all of which are not recommended.
- Protect healing tissue — Your orthopedic hand doctor will provide you with wound care instructions. Follow them to prevent infections or delayed healing times. Even the tiniest incision must be kept clean and dry.
- Avoid repetitive motions early on — Doing the same motions over and over again can strain healing tendons or joints, even if the activity is not necessarily physically demanding or requires you to lift heavy things. Take frequent breaks, add in light stretching when possible, and rest.
Trust Fort Worth Hand Center With Your Orthopedic Hand Surgery
Having to undergo orthopedic hand surgery can feel overwhelming. This is especially true when you’ve never had surgery before or are not used to being limited in what you can or cannot do. The good news is that hand surgery has evolved so much in recent years that the procedure itself is far less invasive. As a result, surrounding tissue does not get impacted nearly as much, and hand doctors can be so incredibly precise that healing and recovery times are faster.
When your procedure is over and you are not in pain anymore, you may wonder how you can avoid similar injuries or even a reinjury in the future. The key is to take your time, listen to your doctor, and follow all recommended healing processes. Doing so will ensure your tendons, ligaments, and bones heal properly.
Whether you are dealing with a fresh injury or lingering pain that has not gone away, the experienced orthopedic team at Fort Worth Hand Center is here to help. We specialize in accurate diagnoses, personalized treatment plans, and long-term recovery strategies for all wrist, finder and hand injuries.
From the fingertips to the elbow, the Fort Worth Hand Center physicians treat a wide range of conditions, including sports injuries, joint replacement, chronic conditions, age-related complications, trauma, numbness, and more. Many times, these ailments do not improve on their own and require skilled medical help from someone who truly understands your situation and how muscles, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage function. Our team of orthopedic surgeons at Fort Worth Hand Center is here to help when you need it most.
If surgery is your best treatment, our orthopedic physicians operate in state-of-the-art, accredited surgery centers. To schedule an appointment, call 817-877-3277 or complete the form below.
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Before starting any new treatment or if you have questions regarding a medical condition, always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider. This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice.
Fort Worth Hand Center serves the DFW area, including Mansfield, Newark, North Richland Hills, Pantego, Pelican Bay, Richland Hills, River Oaks, Saginaw, Sansom Park, Southlake, Trophy Club, Watauga, Westlake, Westover Hills, Westworth Village, White Settlement, Arlington, Azle, Bedford, Benbrook, Blue Mound, Burleson, Colleyville, Crowley, Dallas, Dalworthington Gardens, Edgecliff Village, Euless, Everman, Flower Mound, Forest Hill, Fort Worth, Grand Prairie, Grapevine, Haltom City, Haslet, Hurst, Keller, Kennedale, Lakeside, Lake Worth, and all of North Texas.
*Patient names and/or photos may be changed to protect patient confidentiality.