The splint is off!

[Moniece Dickerson]

I am thrilled to have the splint off and stitches out but you all,I can BARELY bend my finger.It's going to be quite a while before I can "get my finger back" and ride again :-(.If you know of anything to help me help it along please do suggest it.Thanks!Your friend,Moniece

[motorgypsy]

Call the doctor and request that you be referred to a physical therapist. Insist on this. Tell them that your finger is so stiff you can't properly do your job or work at home. A physical therapist will probably have it working fine in one month and it will benefit your employer just as much as it does you. Be nice but be tough.

[Jane Hurl]

Yep, what MG said. Without it the ligaments and tendons will shorten and then you'll NEVER get to use it properly again.

Git goin', girl!

[Terry Wallace]

PT for sure....while I was having PT for my knee..I often observed the hand & finger PT lady working on injured hands....she was really good and got those hands working in fairly short order. She knew all the "tricks" to get fingers to bend better!

[Moniece Dickerson]

He won't order PT yet,he says that PT is rarely necessary for a sensory tendon.I've come further with it since yesterday but not a lot and i'm kindof afraid if I push it too hard the incission will come back open.Since he won't order PT yet how many days should I wait before calling back and insisting?A few?Your friend,Moniece

[motorgypsy]

You can probably safely wait a week but you can do stretching exercises yourself. The PT people use discomfort vs pain. If it's uncomfortable it's OK. If it's pain it isn't. So keep using it. He may be right. You may not need it. Only you can judge. If it's healed it won't open back up but you don't HURT it. You just NUDGE it little by little to improve!

One exercise I've seen them do is to walk with your fingers and just gently stretch them one at a time including the injured one.

[Monty]

When I hurt my one hand - they had me try to touch each finger to the palm - also , squeeze a very soft ball.
It has been a while - have to remember :roll:
I loved PT - ROFL - thye had me put it in a tank that had warm cocoa shells and it massaged it - then we did the PT!
Felt so good - I didn't want them to turn it off ! And smelled good too :lol: