Post-Op Hand Therapy Timing Matters

Your surgery date isn’t the only date that matters. We’re joined by Carl Petito from Hand to Shoulder Solution, a hand therapist who works directly alongside orthopedic surgeons and orthopedic PAs, to share a quick but powerful recovery tip: schedule your post-operative hand therapy at the same time you schedule your surgery. It’s a simple planning move that can reduce stress and protect your results, especially after hand and wrist procedures.Carl walks us through what happens behind the scenes in an orthopedic office once a surgery is booked: the surgeon’s order, the procedure details (like scaphoid repair), and how a therapist uses best-practice timelines to decide whether you should be seen four to five days after surgery, one week after, or two weeks after. The goal is not speed for speed’s sake, but the right timing for tissue healing and safe progress.We also dig into why this timing matters for real-life outcomes. When therapy starts late, excessive stiffness can set in, swelling can become harder to resolve, and pain can ramp up. Early hand therapy focuses on optimal healing, safe range of motion, clear wound care education, and often a custom orthosis that replaces a bulky dressing and helps you feel better right away.If you’re planning hand surgery, wrist surgery, or post-op rehab, this is your reminder to treat scheduling as part of the treatment plan. Subscribe, share this with someone facing surgery, and leave a review with your best post-op recovery question.Support the showWork with Carl! Check out the website - www.carlpetitto.comSUPPORT THE SHOW HERE: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/BM23TS2LDQVFSHello and welcome to the show, The Hand to Shoulder Solution, with me, Carl Petitto. If you are experiencing pain in your arms and hands, this is your resource. Subscribe, listen, and share to help us 'give pain the middle finger for good'! This is a resource to help you mitigate pain at home and become more educated on what to ask your doctors and therapists. No medical advice will be given, and you should always see your medical professional for any questions. Thank you, and welcome to the show!