My wife recently had a kitchen accident and cut her inside forearm, resulting
in damage (partial cut) to 5 tendons and the median nerve.  She had
microsurgery a week ago to repair these that went well, according to the
plastic surgeon.  The forearm and fingers are in a fairly rigid splint.

Things were manageable, but about two days ago she started having this pain
that runs from the cut to her thumb and sometimes shoots up to her shoulder.
The surgeon says that it may be due to inflammation (of the damaged nerve ?)
and suggests ibuprofen, elevation of arm, and ice pak.  Infection is not
suspected since there is no fever.

I thought I will explore the net wisdom with the following questions:

  Is there any better way to control the pain than what the surgeon suggested?
  How long will such pain last?  Will the pain recur in the future?

  Do damaged (partially cut) tendons heal completely and is all of the finger
  strength regained?  How long does it take for the complete healing process?

Thanks in advance for all the replies.

Devesh Bhatt.

|>   Is there any better way to control the pain than what the surgeon suggested?

Starting with antiinflammatory agents seems a good idea. But if there is no
improvement, don't hesitate to ask for something else.

|>   How long will such pain last?  Will the pain recur in the future?

Impossible to say how long it will last. It probably won't recur.

|>   Do damaged (partially cut) tendons heal completely and is all of the finger
|>   strength regained?  How long does it take for the complete healing process?

They heal perfectly and fingers can be strictly normal afterwards. Sometimes,
scar tissue will form linking the tendon to the surrounding tissues,
leading to limited finger motion. Rehabilitation is crucial in preventing
this. Complete healing takes about two months.

-philippe

No one can answer that.  If she gets reflex sympathetic dystrophy,
it could last forever.  Just hope she does not.  Most don't.

Sometimes they do and sometimes they don't.  You just have to do the
best job you can reattaching and hope.  You should know in a few
months.

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Gordon Banks  N3JXP      | "Skepticism is the chastity of the intellect, and

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