Hands For Living_Keep Your Hands Warm

NEWSLETTER

A Fresh Look... It’sFebruary...monthofValentine’sDay,andthepromiseofspring! Our days are getting longer and the crocuses are pushing through to start the slow unveiling of green and growth. Let’s find ways to get outside and breathe the fresh air! Wehavehadsomuchfunthispastyearseeingmanyreturnclients! We love seeing people again that we have met before.... even though it sometimes means they’ve had a new injury or further developments in an old problem. Sometimes a fresh look can help you make adjustments to keep your hands, arms, and shoulders healthy and strong. I am grateful to each of our clients and to our staff for being part of our community. It’s a pleasure to serve you. By: JoAnn Keller, OTD, OTR/L, CHT

Injuries Take Time (LOTS OF TIME) To Heal

By: JoAnn Keller, OTD, OTR/L, CHT

If there is one thing that I tell clients every single day, it’s this: after a significant injury, it takes 12-18 MONTHS to complete the healing process. Significant injuries can include

The bulk of the “basic” healing is completed within weeks or months, and you may achieve 80%recovery in that timeframe,but the tissues will continue to change and improve after the initial 3-4 months of healing. While patience is required during this time, don’t completely ignore an injury and expect it to disappear. If you “jam” a finger or develop a tendonitisorpain inyourshoulderorarm,make sure to have the problem evaluated to know what to expect, and what you can do to help. There are many problems that can be solved or improved quickly and some that won’t heal or may worsen without specific attention or care.Someproblemsarenotsolvedbyapplying ONLY patience!

“small” things like a jammed finger, tendonitis suchas tenniselbowor rotatorcuff tendonitis, or the dramatic ones like a broken wrist or cut tendon or anything requiring surgery. Healing happens at different rates in different tissues.Usuallyskin,muscle,andbloodvessels will heal the most quickly - within three weeks. Bones take longer, usually six to eight weeks. Connectivesoft tissueswith lessbloodsupply,

such as tendons and ligaments, take twelve to sixteen weeks and longer. A “jammed finger” is often a sprain - an injury to ligaments or tendons,which iswhytheycantakemorethana year to return tonormal,or to thebestpossible achievable outcome.

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