Hand Surgery for Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Edited By: Thomas Trumble, M.D.
Last updated Thursday, October 14, 2004
RehabilitationWhat types of physical therapy do patients require after hand surgery for arthritis of the hand? Most patients will require therapy at least once or twice a week for a
period of four to six weeks. Therapy begins one to two weeks after the
surgery once the swelling has subsided and there is sufficient healing
to allow early motion.What options exist for rehabilitation after hand surgery for arthritis of the hand? The rehabilitation program should be under the care of a therapist
who is skilled in hand therapy. Most therapists have a special
certification in hand therapy. Typically we maintain a list of skilled
therapists throughout the five-state region to manage the needs of
patients regardless of where they live. The therapy needs to be done
close to their home where it is convenient.
Although it is important to continue the exercise program at home,
we recommend that the patients have a program supervised by a skilled
therapist with their visit adjusted according to their needs.
The program varies somewhat depending on what types of surgery where
performed as different combinations result in the patient's individual
program. We recommend that the patients have access to therapy for at
least four to six weeks from their surgery.
How long after hand surgery for arthritis of the hand will patients be able to return to ordinary daily activities? We encourage patients to use their hands, although this is sometimes
has to be done while the patient is wearing a splint to do some of
their simplest activities such as dressing and eating. Most patients
are free from splints and casts within six weeks from time of surgery
and can perform most of their daily functions. It generally requires
two to three months from time of surgery before patients regain the
type of strength that they need to perform all of their pre-surgery
activities.After full recovery and rehabilitation from hand surgery for arthritis of the hand, what are the limitations on the patient? In general, we try to minimize the restrictions on the patients. In
many cases, the patient's surgery has been tapered to their expected
activity level. For example, joint replacement surgeries cannot
withstand heavy lifting and we do not recommend these in patients who
can otherwise pursue heavy physical activities. Overall, the goal of
the surgery is to enhance the patient's life style and increase the
number of activities that they can perform. Patients can generally use
their own judgement as to which activities they feel comfortable
pursuing.Surgery for arthritis of the hand at the University of Washington If you are interested in making an appointment to discuss this procedure, you can request an appointment using our online referrals website. To request a referral online, please click here. You can also call 206-598-4537 to make an appointment.
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