Fracture injuries are tough to deal with. They make it harder to move hands and get through the daily routine. Right after you’re put into a cast is when you need to take the most care of your wrist fracture. These first several weeks are crucial and can affect your outcome.

Here are a few mistakes which you should avoid for a smooth recovery.

Too Scared to Move

Many are too afraid to move their arm, elbow, fingers, and hands and try to stay in one position because they don’t want to disrupt the healing process. However, this can have detrimental effects down the road. If you’re afraid to move your arm, it can take just a couple of days for things to start stiffening up.

So, typically when you have a wrist fracture, you just have the wrist immobilized. If you were not supposed to move other parts, then you’d be in a full-body cast. It is highly advised to avoid this mistake. Make sure the rest of your body is in good shape.

Waiting For Swelling to Go Down

People may wait for the swelling to go down to start moving and doing the recommended exercises. The swelling may stay for several weeks or even several months in some cases, depending on the severity of the injury. That’s why you need to get started on whatever exercises have been prescribed right away.

Not Communicating With Doctor

If the cast is too tight, too high, or feels uncomfortable on your wrist, let your doctor know! Communicating your issues with your doctor is very important. If it’s too high for you to be able to move your fingers or knuckles, make sure you get it adjusted. This will cause more issues in the long run, like numb fingers, tingling, or reduced blood circulation.

Avoiding Therapy

It’s important to attend physical hand therapy sessions as they heal the atrophy in the muscles and prevent future issues. If you can’t attend in-person therapy, look for places that offer online video sessions. If your therapist requires a referral, then consult your doctor about it. It will eventually help you in the long term.

A patient with a cast various medicines in another palm

If you or any of your loved ones plan to get occupational hand therapy sessions from professionals, contact our team at Able Hands Rehab. Our team of highly qualified trainers and certified hand therapists provide a variety of treatments, from custom static splints to trigger thumb therapy for our patients.