Arm stiffness
Arm stiffness
My arm has gone terribly stiff because I have kept in a stationary position most of time for a whole month. I am scared to strech it because I don't Im scared it will affect the surgery the did. I am still waiting to get permission from the doctor to go to my physical therapist. What should I do until then?
Re: Arm stiffness
Is your arm in a sling? if so, was it put on immediately after your sugery and is it designed to keep your arm totally immobile? Your surgeon or doctor should have told you right after surgery if you need to keep the arm immobile, if not, give him or her a call and check on this; I don't know what kind of surgery you had, but if it involved nerve transfers, which are usually under tension, then my advice is to definitely not do any stretching exercises until you have talked to the surgeon.
Don't worry too much about the stiffness; I had intercostal nerve grafts and my arm was immobilised in a specially designed sling. After 6 weeks, I went back to the hospital's rehab unit to have the sling removed and a weeks worth of very intense physiotherapy on the arm and shoulder. It soon loosens up, although it wasn't a very pleasant experience!(what is with this injury??)
What you could do until you speak to your Dr is some finger and wrist execises; these are perfectly safe to do even if your arm has been purposely immobilised. Have a look at this page on the TBPI website http://tbpiukgroup.homestead.com/physio_excercise1.html
click on the hand and wrist execises link. PLEASE read the warnings and DON'T try the arm stretches until you have spoken to your physiotherapist and have been shown how to do these properly.
When you do get the go-ahead to do the stretches by your physio. try and do them regularly to stop any contractures. It helps with the pain to keep the arm as supple as possible.
Let us know what the dr. says...bye for now..
Lizzy B :0)
Don't worry too much about the stiffness; I had intercostal nerve grafts and my arm was immobilised in a specially designed sling. After 6 weeks, I went back to the hospital's rehab unit to have the sling removed and a weeks worth of very intense physiotherapy on the arm and shoulder. It soon loosens up, although it wasn't a very pleasant experience!(what is with this injury??)
What you could do until you speak to your Dr is some finger and wrist execises; these are perfectly safe to do even if your arm has been purposely immobilised. Have a look at this page on the TBPI website http://tbpiukgroup.homestead.com/physio_excercise1.html
click on the hand and wrist execises link. PLEASE read the warnings and DON'T try the arm stretches until you have spoken to your physiotherapist and have been shown how to do these properly.
When you do get the go-ahead to do the stretches by your physio. try and do them regularly to stop any contractures. It helps with the pain to keep the arm as supple as possible.
Let us know what the dr. says...bye for now..
Lizzy B :0)
Re: Arm stiffness
PS...The finger execises are safe as long as you don't have any other injuries in these areas...if you have or had broken bones in the fingers for example, then don't do them until you check with you physician or physiotherapit.
lizzy b
lizzy b
Re: Arm stiffness
I think the best thing is to talk to your Doctor.