Digital nerve repair: advice and exercises

Digital nerves give the feeling to the skin on the side of your fingers and thumb. There are 2 digital nerves in each finger and thumb; the radial digital nerve and the ulnar digital nerve.

Your digital nerve has been repaired to help improve the feeling in your finger or thumb. After surgery it can take several weeks for the nerve to regrow.

It is normal to have swelling in your hand after surgery. To help drain the swelling, whenever possible:

Do rest your hand above the level of your heart. Use a cushion to support your arm if this is comfortable.

Do move your fingers, thumb, wrist, elbow, shoulder and neck regularly to prevent stiffness in these joint.

Do not allow your hand to hang by your side.

Early movement of your fingers and thumb as described in this leaflet will help to manage your swelling and prevent stiffness later.

Continue to protect any numb areas of skin from hot or sharp objects as you might not be able to feel heat or pain in this area for a few weeks.

You can use your hand for light activities once you feel comfortable after your operation for example:

– doing up buttons and shoelaces

– dressing yourself with light weight clothes 

– holding a paper

– using a mobile phone

After 3 weeks you can start to gradually return to your normal day-to-day activities including sports.

You will not stop your digital nerve healing by moving your fingers and thumb. Bending and straightening your fingers will help regain movement and reduce swelling in your hand and fingers.

You should complete the following exercises:

1. Straighten your fingers but do not push them straight with your other hand. Have your hand raised with straight fingers.

2. Close your had to make a full fist. Your elbow rests on table with hand raised in full fist.

3. Rest your elbow on the table. Touch each fingertip with your thumb.

Do each of the exercises 10 times, 4 times a day.

Regularly touching the numb area helps to improve nerve recovery in your finger or thumb. 

Massage also helps make the scar more mobile so it does not limit movement of the fingers or thumb. Once the stitches are removed and the wound is dry you can start to massage the scar.

Use a simple non-perfumed light moisturiser to massage the scar in circular movements.

Do this at least 4 times a day for 5 minutes.

A review appointment will be made in the hand therapy department for 6 weeks after your operation to check your movement and the recovery of your nerve. 

Contact the therapy department admin team:

• If you need to arrange a review if you have not received an appointment when you were discharged.
• If you continue to have difficulty bending and straightening your fingers and thumb 2 weeks after your operation. 
• To cancel the appointment if the feeling in your finger or thumb is returning, you are moving your fingers and thumb normally and you are back to your usual activities.

Contact the plastic surgery department if you still have an open wound and are concerned that you have a wound infection. Signs of infection are:

• Increased redness around the wound
• Redness spreading down your forearm
• Throbbing, increased swelling
• A fever
• Discharge from the wound that is foul smelling or coloured
• Your hand or fingers become more swollen, reddened, or blistered.

Contact Details

The Hand Therapy Team

Telephone: 01274 382874 – Monday to Thursday 8.00am – 6.00pm, Friday 8.00am – 3.30pm  

The Plastic Trauma Clinic 

Telephone:  01274 364397 – between the hours of 7.30am and 5.00pm available every day – including bank holidays