Hand surgery is often performed to repair the hand of fractures, burns, animal bites, wounds, infection, nerve damage, severed tendons from sports injuries or other accidents, contractures of the hand, and congenital deformities. Many individuals worry about the pain, discomfort and downtime of an invasive hand surgery. An operation is not always a permanent fix. Non-invasive alternatives do exist, and some of these are:
Physical Therapy and Hand Massage
Hand and wrist exercises may be performed to improve the strength and flexibility of the hand, and to improve acute and chronic pain. Even manual therapy and a gentle massage for 5 minutes at a time can treat the tissue and muscles of the hand, restoring proper balance and health.
Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12
Medical studies has shown that Vitamin B6 relieves muscle spasms, numbness and stiffness of the hands. This vitamin also promotes healthy skin and can assist with the healing of certain burns and wound injuries. Medical studies indicate that patients experiencing carpal tunnel syndrome often have a deficiency of Vitamin B6. Carpal tunnel syndrome affects the median nerve causing pain, numbness and tingling of the whole hand, or parts of the hand like the thumb, index or middle fingers. Scientific evidence shows that Vitamin B12 is also beneficial for carpal tunnel syndrome.
Heat and Ice
Heat can be used to assist with pain relief and healing, as it increases the blood flow and eases the tension in the muscles. A heating pad may be applied to the sore area for normally 15 to 20 minutes.
An icepack or ice wrapped in a facecloth may be applied to a painful area for 15 to 20 minutes at 3 hour intervals, to relieve pain and swelling. It is recommended not to apply ice directly onto the affected area, as the skin's integrity may be compromised.
Acupuncture and Acupressure
Acupuncture and the insertion of tiny needles in specific areas of the hand may be used to block energy pathways, and improve the flow of the blood to eliminate pain. This method of treatment helps to release natural healing chemicals from the body to assist to heal the hand.
Acupressure is similar to acupuncture, except pressure is applied to the specific areas of the hand rather than needles. This treatment assists with decreasing numbness and inflammation.
Medications
Anti-inflammatory medications and analgesics, such as ibuprofen or aspirin, may help to relieve pain and discomfort. Muscular pain can develop in as soon as a few minutes to 1 hour after an injury occurs. It is important to address the pain soon after it begins before it escalates.
Splinting
Splinting can help to reduce pain and speed healing for a fractured hand. This method of treatment is commonly done for hand and wrist fractures and jamming injuries. These splints should be used until the tendons are healed, or when the doctor advises for them to be removed.
It is important to follow the doctor’s recommendations on how to treat a specific hand injury or deformity, as every individual case is different. Certain hand injuries or congenital deformities still require hand surgery, such as burns, bites, amputations or fractures.
