Right after surgery, your arm will be placed in a bulky dressing (bandage) and a plaster splint that covers your thumb, wrist, and forearm.
Elevate your hand often to lessen swelling. Mild to moderate swelling after surgery is normal.
When you shower, cover your splint with a plastic bag to keep it dry.
Pain Management
You will receive a prescription for narcotic pain medicine. Take this medicine only if you need it.
Be sure to talk with the clinic nurse about how to take your pain medicine. To best manage your pain, you must take your pain medicine the way it was prescribed. Taking the correct dose at the right time is very important.
If you have uncomfortable side effects from the pain medicine, call the nurse at 206-598-4263.
Please see “Medications After Surgery” for more instructions.
It is normal to have some pain off and on for up to 1 year after surgery, especially in cold weather.
Driving
Do not drive if you are taking narcotic pain medicine. It is not safe. The medicine can make you sleepy and delay your reaction time.
Once you are no longer taking the medicine, you may drive as soon as you can comfortably grip the steering wheel with both hands.
Activity
Right after surgery, you may begin gentle finger exercises. You will not be able to move your thumb or wrist because of the dressing.
You can use your hand for daily tasks such as getting dressed, typing, combing your hair, preparing food, and other light activities.
Avoid any heavy gripping, lifting, or pinching until your surgeon or occupational hand therapist says you may do these things.
Follow-up
When you leave the surgery center, you should have a follow-up appointment in the Hand Center already set for 10 to 14 days after surgery. At that visit:
- Your sutures will be removed.
- You will get a custom removable thumb brace made by the therapist that includes your thumb.
You will wear this brace to protect your thumb for 4 more weeks.
The brace will be removed 6 weeks after surgery. At that time, you will continue wearing the brace for activities.
At the 6 week time point, you will also begin more aggressive hand therapy, 2 x per week, focusing on edema control and range of motion at this time.
Three months after surgery, you will not need to use any braces or splints to support your thumb. But, some patients like to use a soft neoprene (synthetic rubber) splint, such as one made by Comfort Cool, for support during heavier activities.
Strengthening exercises begin 3 months after surgery.
Results
Your symptoms will continue to improve. About every 3 months, you should see improvements in your ability to do more activities.
Patients usually continue to improve for up to 1 year after surgery.
Most patients have a big decrease in their pain levels and are able to do more activities after thumb CMC joint arthroplasty surgery.