You will usually go home the same day as your surgery. It will be important to elevate you arm. The higher you can get the arm, the better the swelling will drain. If you have had a nerve block you will usually be sent home in a sling to protect the arm. When the sensation comes back the next day you can abandon this in favour of elevation on pillows or cushions.
You will need to do finger exercises: full flexion down to the plaster cast, and full extension (fully straight). Your minimum is ten times every hour, but the response is linear, and so the more the better.
An appointment will be made for you to see a hand therapist. The wound is often checked within a week and a fresh dressing placed. The hand therapist will want you to start gently moving the wrist as soon as we feel there is enough stability.
You should avoid lifting anything heavy for 6 to 8 weeks depending on your bone quality. A knife and fork is fine, and a glass of water is generally ok, but nothing heavier than that. Once the bone has healed (usually around six weeks), you can progressively increase the amount you lift.
For more information, or to get in touch about your fracture, see:-
https://rupertwharton.com/pages/wrist-fractures
https://rupertwharton.com/blogs/distal-radius-fractures/does-a-broken-wrist-need-an-operation
https://rupertwharton.com/pages/contact
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Rupert Wharton, Hand surgeon in Central London (King Edward VII) and South West London (New Victoria and Kingston Private Health)