Next Steps

Follow-up

After you leave the hospital or doctor's office, you can make your healing process as successful as possible by following this advice.

• Read any instructions given to you by the hospital and ask questions about those that you do not understand. Several studies have shown that instructional material is often not read or incompletely understood.
  
  
• If you are placed in a splint, do not remove it until you are told to do so.
  
  
• Take the pain medicine recommended. Often, a hand injury will throb all night, keeping you awake.
  
  
• Keep the hand elevated as much as possible. This will reduce pain and decrease swelling.
  
  
• Keep your follow-up appointments and take all medicines as directed.