Wrist drop: the splint and keeping the hand supple

How to use this sheet. The nerve that lifts the wrist, the fingers and the thumb is not working for now. Such nerves often recover slowly, over weeks to months, and we will check the recovery at each visit. Meanwhile the aim is to keep the hand useful and the joints supple, so the hand is ready when the nerve comes back. Wear the splint by day as we advised: it holds the wrist up so you can grip, and it stops the weak muscles being overstretched. Every day, move the wrist, fingers and thumb through their full range using the other hand. Do not push the wrist down hard, and do not let anyone, including a bone setter, pull, massage hard or manipulate the hand or arm. Avoid hard, repeated twisting of the forearm, such as wringing out wet clothes. If the back of the hand near the thumb is numb, protect it: numb skin does not feel a burn or a cut, so take care with a hot tawa, hot vessels, an iron and knives. Avoid tight pressure on the upper arm while the nerve recovers: do not sleep with the arm hanging over a chair back or with someone's head resting on it, and wear nothing tight round the upper arm. If the wrist drop came with a broken arm bone, also follow the advice for that fracture for the elbow and shoulder. Do not ride a two-wheeler until we have told you it is safe: a dropped wrist cannot control the handle safely. We also give this sheet for two related nerve problems in the forearm. If only the fingers and thumb have dropped and the wrist still lifts, or if you have aching in the forearm without weakness, wear a splint only if we have advised one. With aching alone, the main help is to cut down hard twisting of the forearm and heavy, repeated gripping; tell us if the fingers become truly weak, not just painful.