Is it standard practice to go to physical therapy after severing the major flexor tendon in a forearm?
I was in an accident and severed three tendons in my forearm as well as damaging the nerve. Physical therapy was never really suggested by my surgeon and I was not given any instruction on what to do while my arm was in a cast for 6 weeks. Is this normal? Everything I have read encourages physical therapy about a week after surgery for injuries to flexor tendons.
Filed under: Alternative Medicine
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you can call the surgeon and ask him. But doesn’t sound like he was interested in any more than HIS work.
Call your insurance company, and ask if your insurance, or some other insurance (other driver?) will cover physical therapy. Your primary care physician might have to give you a referral.
Almost all hand surgeons have their favorite hand therapist. I am not sure what your particular surgeon’s feeling is about therapy. Most doctors want you to have therapy for the lack of it is going to cause problems. You could have contractures that will make it very difficult to gain full use of the fingers. Scar tissue takes about 21 days to become mature and one doesn’t want that tissue to be formed in a haphazard matrix. You get the appropriate alignment of new collagen fibers by working the area correctly. I will not suggest anything for the arm at this stage since I cannot see the arm nor know exactly what was done. I will suggest that you work the uninjured arm as hard as you can. The reason for this is that the body has this marvelous system in that when you work the stronger side there is an overflow to the weaker. So in your case by working the uninjured side you are imparting some increase in strength to the injured side. I would strongly urge you to sit down and talk to your doctor about the reluctance in ordering therapy. Perhaps they would feel more confident in sending you to an occupational therapist. It doesn’t matter just as long as there is something done to help you.
Surgeons can be very territorial when it comes to their work and have a set plan for recovery. Did you ask about PT and any exercises while in the cast. I would certainly bring that discussion to the doctor on your next visit, or even call. Be sure to have your questions written down, so you don;t forget anything when you have that discussion