Manage Your Hand Pain After Surgery: Guide to treatment

Managing your hand pain after surgery, following an injury, or simply due to overuse doesn’t have to be challenging. Thankfully, there are many ways to manage and reduce this pain without always including pain medications.

Hand Pain Management in Houston, Texas

With the use of the latest diagnostic tools and minimally invasive procedures, Dr. Jason Ashford, Houston based hand specialist, provides excellent hand and wrist treatments to minimize downtime and post-surgical pain.

However, as with any surgery, some pain and discomfort may exist after the procedure. Dr. Ashford and his staff are well prepared and offer a wide range of pain management options to get you back to work quickly and doing the things you enjoy.

Discussing your expectations with the doctors and staff is the best way to be prepared to manage hand and wrist pain before and after your surgery. Since each surgery is different and each person’s pain tolerance varies, it’s best to understand which pain treatments are recommended for your specific disease condition.

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We offer transparent pricing options that are readily available to you and do not include hidden bundled fees or billing of additional costs that were not discussed.

Each patient, surgery and surgeon is unique therefore the approach to management of hand pain is individual. In our Houston, TX and Conroe locations, you will receive an individualized plan that may include a combination of medications, upper extremity occupational therapy, continued in-home exercises, icing and/or heating.

Schedule my appointment for a personal guide to treatment for hand pain

What should I expect on the day of my surgery?

Your surgeon and anesthesia team will discuss with you how they will manage your pain during and after the procedure. This may include medications by mouth, IV and/or injection.

Medications delivered during your procedure help decrease pain during the surgery as well as reduce your pain afterwards. If necessary, you may receive medication after your surgery.

In some cases, you will receive prescription pain medication and instructions for use at home in the days following your surgery. You may also receive instructions on using over-the-counter pain medications.

What will my post-surgery pain management look like?

Before using any of the following methods, please discuss if these pain management methods are appropriate with Houston, Texas, board certified hand specialist, Dr. Jason Ashford.

You will be provided with a specific postoperative care plan with instructions designed for your type of surgery and your individual needs. Besides medications, the following methods may be recommended to manage your hand and wrist pain:

Elevation
Caring for your dressing
Mild activity
Icing the area
Heating the area
Avoiding smoking
Consuming vitamin C

Will I need post-surgery medication management?

The hand pain management methods listed above are often effective when used in combination with taking medications post-surgery. There are many different classes of medication that can help pain. Some you can purchase over-the-counter, and some require a prescription. All medicines can have some benefits and some adverse reactions/side effects. Dr. Jason Ashford will balance these issues to provide a plan best suited for you. Some commonly prescribed medications include:

Opioids
Tylenol (Acetaminophen)
Aleve (Naprosyn/naproxen)
Motrin/Advil (Ibuprofen)
Celebrex (Celecoxib)
Toradol (Ketorolac)

When taking medication, keep the following in mind:

It may take 30 to 60 minutes for your body to absorb the medication after you take it by mouth.
Longer-acting medications used before bedtime may help you sleep better the first few nights after surgery.
The first few nights post-surgery will generally be the toughest.
Do not exceed the dose your physician recommends or combine medications without consulting with you physicians.

If you are unfamiliar with the medications suggested, your surgeon can specify how much medication you should take, for how long and for how often.

Ask Dr. Jason Ashford more about opioids, including the side effects, how to safely use them and how to properly dispose of any extras.

Schedule an appointment for issues including pain or swelling in the hand, wrist or elbow, “trigger finger”, thumb pain, rheumatoid arthritis, fingertip injury, carpal tunnel syndrome, ganglion cysts, and injuries to muscle tendons and or at the base of the thumb.