Hand Saga — Part Four — Looking Good!

Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash

So, today was a full day of hand stuff.

First I had my post op followup, at which we determined that the pins are still where they belong, I don’t have an infection, and my healing rate is satisfactory. Yay! I have an appointment scheduled for two weeks from now to remove the pins (barring complications).

Then over to the hand therapist. Yes, this is a specific profession. She does hands. Just hands.

Hand Therapy?

So, one of the biggest issues with hand injuries is…well, if you don’t use it…

After an injury, your hand and wrist can end up hideously stiff and out of shape.

A hand therapist’s job with acute injuries is to keep that from happening as much as possible.

She fitted me for the hand splint that will be my constant companion for the next few weeks.No, this is not done by the surgeon!

My splint is designed to do two things:

1. Support the bone while it heals.
2. Keep my hand flexible.

I can move my wrist freely, although it’s stiff from being immobilized. The splint comes off to do stretching exercises every hour or so and I can take it off to put on a sweater. And to bathe, although I have to cover my hand until the…