Thumb CMC suspensionplasty post-op care

Your hand should feel numb from the regional anesthetic for an average of 8-24 hours after surgery. During this time be sure to keep your hand elevated and gently move your fingers when able.
Take a nap or rest when you get home, but try not to sleep for more than 3 hours until bedtime.
When you feel the regional block wearing off, be sure to take pain medication! Do not wait for the pain to reach a certain level – instead try to stay ahead of the pain for the first 2-3 days.
Do not take NSAIDS until the first day after your surgery, and please take with food.
Elevate the surgical hand for the first 72 hours.

No lifting, carrying, or pulling for the first 10-14 days. You may do light typing & writing.
The splint must stay on until your follow up appointment. Please cover and keep dry when showering.
No driving until you are off narcotic pain medications and you feel comfortable operating an automatic transmission vehicle.
You should be off narcotic medications by your first post-op visit in 10-14 days.

The splint must stay on until your follow up appointment. Please cover and keep dry when showering.
The 1st post-op office appointment should be 10-14 days. The splint will be removed at this visit.
You will start hand therapy at 10-14 days after surgery. The therapist will make a brace that you can easily remove so you can begin simple motion exercises and shower!
At 6 weeks after surgery you will be converted to a shorter brace that only goes over the hand, and you will wear this brace until 8 weeks after surgery.
Strengthening does not begin until 8 weeks after surgery.

Timing of your return to work depends on the type of work you do and which hand was operated on.
- Light desk work may resume in 1-2 weeks, but do not expect typing to be back to speed for 3-4 weeks.
- Repetitive tasks may require 4-6 weeks before return to work.
- Return to more demanding and heavy manual labor may require 12 weeks.