Have you crushed your hand recently?
Hand injuries can be painful and challenging to recover from, especially when they involve crushing. Whether it’s due to an accident at work or any other unfortunate incident, understanding your injury is vital.
How can you recover from a crushing hand injury? Read on to learn how to manage and heal your injured hand.
Understanding Crush Injuries
Crush injuries in the hand are when the hand gets compressed between two heavy objects or experiences a significant impact. This kind of hand injury can cause severe damage to the bones, muscles, blood vessels, and nerves in the hand, which leads to intense pain and functional impairment.
Types of Crush Injuries
What kinds of crush injuries can affect the hand? These include:
Tissue Damage
This involves injuries to the skin, muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the hand. It results in hand bruising, swelling, and restricted movement.
Fractures
Bones in the hand can break or shatter under the force of a crushing injury. It can lead to sharp pain, deformity, and difficulty using the hand.
Nerve Damage
Crush injuries may also damage the nerves in the hand. This could cause hand numbness, tingling, and loss of sensation.
Vascular Injury
In serious cases, hand blood vessels can be compromised. This could lead to reduced blood flow, tissue death, and the potential need for surgical intervention.
Managing Hand Pain
Managing hand pain is a crucial aspect of recovering from a crushing hand injury. Patients can alleviate pain and discomfort by:
Resting and Icing the Hand
Avoiding activities that exacerbate pain and allowing the hand to rest and heal. Applying ice packs to the injured hand can help reduce swelling and alleviate pain.
Taking Pain Medication and Elevating the Hand
Taking over-the-counter pain relievers in a responsible way can help manage hand pain and inflammation. Keeping the hand elevated above heart level can reduce swelling and promote circulation, aiding in pain relief.
Healing a Hand Injury
Recovery from a crushing hand injury takes time and patience. Here are some essential tips to facilitate the hand-healing process:
Follow Medical Advice
It’s crucial to follow the advice and hand treatment plan outlined by your doctor. This may include immobilizing the hand, physical therapy sessions, or hand surgery.
Engage in Rehabilitation Exercises
Physical therapy exercises can help get your injured hand back into top shape. You should do these hand exercises with the guidance of a qualified therapist to prevent further injury.
Practice Good Hand Hygiene
Proper hand hygiene includes keeping the hand clean and dry. This can prevent hand infections and promote healing.
Stay Positive and Patient
Recovery from a crushing hand injury can be challenging both physically and emotionally. It’s essential to stay positive, patient, and diligent in following the prescribed treatment plan for the best possible outcome.
Do You Need Help with a Crushing Hand Injury?
You’ll need patience, dedication, and support from healthcare professionals and loved ones to recover from a crushing hand injury. By understanding the nature of crush injuries, managing hand pain, and participating in the healing process, patients can optimize their recovery.
Do you need help with hand pain in Boise or Meridian, Idaho? Contact Idaho Shoulder to Hand to book your visit. We help anyone who’s suffering from shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand issues flourish.
