If you are recovering from a hand/wrist injury, or having surgery to your hand/wrist, you may need to rest it for a period of time.
This leaflet is designed to give you advice on managing “onehanded”.
BEFORE YOUR SURGERY
Ask for help
After your surgery, you are likely to need help with activities such as childcare, housework, meals and trips to hospitals.
Try to plan and make arrangements beforehand with others (friends, relatives, careers) to get the help you might need.
Driving
You are advised not to drive until stitches and casts/splints have been removed.
Your car insurance may not be valid if your hand/wrist is in a dressing or plaster cast.
Try to plan by checking bus/public transport routes and timetables.
Practice makes perfect
Before your surgery, practice doing everyday activities such as dressing, showering and eating using only one hand.
Prepare
Start preparing before your surgery you to make managing easier:
Food
• Stock up on food before your operation, especially ready/easy to cook meals
• Soups, sandwiches, ground meats are often easier to manage
Medication
• Consider using a tablet box or open medication container to make them easier to access. Keep them out of reach of children. Alternatively, your pharmacist can provide easy to open containers.
Mobility
• If you have problems with your mobility, or require mobility aids such as walking sticks/Zimmer frames, speak to the therapy department for advice.
•You may require additional or alternative mobility aids whilst you are onehanded.
•Practice using the new or additional aids before your surgery to familiarise yourself.
Money
•Use a wallet/purse that opens easily
AFTER YOUR SURGERY
After your surgery, it is important to follow these postoperative care instructions:
General Care
• Keep dressings/plaster dry until review.
• Elevate your hand/wrist at or above the level of your heart to reduce swelling and pain (see Fig 1)
• Carry a shoulder bag/backpack to free up your good hand for use
• Wear your sling when leaving the house, so other people are aware you have a hand/arm problem and will avoid bumping into you. Otherwise walk with your hand on your opposite shoulder, to keep it protected from others (see Fig 2)
Fig 1: A good way to sit with the arm elevated; notice the pillow under her left elbow. Alternatively, support your hand with 2-3 pillows underneath the wrist (“arm wrestling” position)
Fig 2: Carry your hand on your shoulder whilst you are out in busy environments.
Elevation
• Elevation helps reduce swelling and pain. It is very important after your surgery
• Elevation should continue for as long as it takes for all the swelling to go down
• Every 2-3 hours, stretch your arm above your head and move all the other joints you are allowed to move to avoid stiffness
• When resting at home or in bed, keep your hand/wrist up on some extra pillows beside you or across your chest (see Fig 3 & 4)
Fig 3: In bed, lie down with a pillow on your chest to rest your arm
Fig 4: You can also have 2 pillows to your side and lie with the arm resting on top when sleeping in bed
USEFUL ITEMS TO HELP YOU AFTER YOUR SURGERY
In the shower
• Use commercially available waterproof cast covers. Ask our plaster room staff for more information about waterproof covers for your cast.
• Avoid using plastic bags, cling film or rubber bandages to cover your dressings.
• A soft sponge on a long stick (Bottle sponge) for washing the armpit of your ‘good’ hand and back
• A hairbrush in the shower to help rub shampoo in your hair
• A cotton terry cloth bathrobe to dry your back
• A rubber mat in the shower/bath to avoid slipping
In the bathroom
• Use toothpaste, shampoo, soaps in fliptops or pump action dispensers. Avoid screw tops
• Consider an electric razor or toothbrush
In the kitchen
• A rubber mat can help keep things from slipping around and be used to open jars.
• An electric can opener, with a lid magnet to hold the can, can be used one-handed.
• Vegetable baskets can be used to lift vegetables out from the saucepan.
• One-handed cutlery e.g. Dyna fork or Nelson knife
In the bedroom
• Wear large sleeved shirts and tops to allow easier dressing.
• Slip on shoes.
• Trousers/skirts with elasticated waistbands.
• Consider a stretch crop bra top or vest.
• Avoid clothing that has buttons, fastens at the back or uses drawstrings
USING YOUR HAND AFTER SURGERY
You may be allowed to use your hand lightly after your surgery, especially if you are wearing a cast or splint.
Your doctor or therapist will explain to you how you should use your hand.
If allowed light movements, keep moving your fingers several times per hour (see Fig 5 & 6)
Fig 5: Open and close your fist to keep your fingers moving
Fig 6: Open and close your fist to keep your fingers moving
DO YOU NEED HAND THERAPY AFTER YOUR SURGERY?
After your surgery a hand therapist will assesses your hand and treat your pain, inflammation, scaring and maximize your independence using tailored exercise programs.If you have had surgery on your wrist or hand, you should have been referred to hand therapy. If you haven’t been contacted two weeks after your operation, please contact the Hand Therapy services.
Hand Therapy Team
They can be contacted directly through the hospital switch board.
Plaster Cast:
If you feel the plaster is tight or you are not able to move your fingers and thumb fully, please contact the hospital directly or if out of hours contact your nearest A&E dept and let Mr Mathew’s sect. know the next day.