Return to Work and Sport
Desk Work
You should be able to return to desk work within 1-2 days after nearly any surgery we do for you. You will be sore and slow. You will not be 100%. You will not be able to type 60 words/minute for 8 hours/day, but you can often start to try without risk of injury.
Heavy Work
Heavier work takes longer. For surgeries without splints like Carpal Tunnel Release and Trigger finger release, you can typically do heavy activities between 2 and 4 weeks after surgery. You will have pain around the incision for 4 months on average. Palm wounds especially have thickening of the scar beneath the level of the skin that feels like a rock in your shoe. This will smooth out and go away over several months.
Sporting Activities
The guidelines for sports mirror those for work. Light activities (under 2-3 lbs) can typically be done right away. Heavier things take longer. For most sports, the wound is the limiting factor. Please refer to the Wound Care section for details, but keeping the wound clean is of paramount importance.