Cedar Valley Hand Surgery

After Surgery Instructions - Trigger Finger or Trigger Thumb

1st Week:

For the first several days it is important to keep the operated hand elevated, trying to keep it between the ceiling and your heart. At night, the hand can be placed on pillows on your chest, to the side, or in front of you as you lie on the other side.

Motion of the fingers and thumb is important. The digits should be straightened completely, and then bent as much as the dressing allows. This should be done slowly and gently. Fast, forceful or repetitious motion is not encouraged. A suggested pattern is 50 times an hour during normal waking hours. This does not take long, and the exercises should not be done constantly. This should include the finger(s) or thumb that surgery was done on.

Keep the dressing clean and dry. It will be changed when you return to the office. Use a plastic bag over it if taking a shower.

The local numbing medicine used to do the surgery, or used after the surgery, usually last 7 to 8 hours after surgery. It will occasionally last much longer, up to three days in some patients. This is a normal phenomena, and not worrisome. Pain pills should be taken if needed, but many patients do not require any after this surgery, and you may be able to get by with non-prescription painkillers like advil or Tylenol.

Light activity with the operated hand is encouraged, especially after the first several days. Light lifting, typing, and daily activities can be done with moderation.

If you have problems or questions after this surgery, please call the Cedar Valley Hand Surgery office, 319-364-2697. Whenever possible, please call during normal office hours.

2nd Week

Finger motion exercises should be continued. Once again, it is the distance that the fingers travel that is important, not how fast they move. Active exercises using your own muscle power should be done to straighten and bend the fingers as far as possible. Stretching exercises with the other hand should also be done, slowly and gently.

Repetitious or forceful activity needs to be avoided. Use of the hand is encouraged, but not for forceful gripping or heavy tool use.

3rd Week

Lotion massage into the scar should be started three days after the sutures have been removed. This should be done for 3 to 5 minutes twice daily, using any type of standard hand lotion. This will help soften the scar, resolve swelling, and retrain nerve endings. Lotion massage should be continued for several months after surgery in this fashion, or until the scar no longer looks red.

Motion exercises should also be continued until complete range of motion is reached. Activity can be progressively increased as long as swelling or pain do not worsen. Full, unrestricted activity is usually possible by 4 to 6 weeks after surgery.

The risk of trigger finger recurring after surgery is fortunately very small.