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numbnessdexterityPhases: 1, 2, 3, 4

Nerve injury, numbness, or sensory loss

After nerve repair, crush, or compression — sensation may return as tingling, buzzing, hypersensitivity, or patchy feeling before it feels normal.

Common problems

  • Numb fingertip
  • Hypersensitivity
  • Weak pinch
  • Clumsy object handling

Main goals

  • Sensory retraining
  • Safety awareness
  • Fine motor control
  • Gentle strengthening if motor weakness exists

Avoid / get clearance for

  • Extreme heat or cold (reduced sensation = burn risk)
  • Open wounds during sensory work
Principle

“Sensory retraining should pair tactile input with attention — actively name what you feel.”

Phase ladder for this condition

Stay in a phase until symptoms are calm and stable. Then progress one variable at a time. Open the universal phase guide for full context on each phase.

  1. 1

    Early motion & swelling control

    Keep tissue moving without stressing healing structures.

    5–10 min/session × 3–5/day; low intensity; smooth movement; no forcing end range.

  2. 2

    Active range of motion & tendon gliding

    Restore normal joint motion and tendon sliding.

    10–15 min × 3/day; hold gentle end-ranges 3–10s; track fist closure & finger straightening.

  3. 3

    Light strengthening

    Rebuild grip, pinch, wrist, and endurance without irritating tissue.

    1–3 sets × 8–15 reps; 2–4 days/week; increase only when symptoms stay calm 24h.

  4. 4

    Dexterity & coordination

    Make the hand useful in real life again.

    5–15 min daily; short and precise; stop before fatigue causes sloppy movement.

Recommended exercises

Tap any to start a guided session. Stop rules and contraindications are listed on each exercise page.

Suggested regimens

Nerve recovery & numbness kit

Best for: Numb fingertips • Nerve repair recovery • Crush injury after skin closure • Carpal tunnel after decompression • Hypersensitivity

Rice or beans Coins Cotton ball Towel Velcro Mirror Phone vibration

Sensory discrimination

1–2 times daily
Sensory discrimination: drills and doses for Nerve recovery & numbness kit
DrillDose
Eyes-closed object ID5 objects
Rice search5 minutes
Coin sorting by feel3 minutes

Desensitization

Daily
Desensitization: drills and doses for Nerve recovery & numbness kit
DrillDose
Soft texture strokes1 minute
Towel texture1 minute
Rougher texture (if tolerated)30 seconds
Phone vibration (if tolerated)10–30 seconds

Motor pairing

Daily
Motor pairing: drills and doses for Nerve recovery & numbness kit
DrillDose
Touch → name → pick up → place accurately5 objects
Progression: Move from large to small objects, looking to eyes closed, slow to timed.

Traffic-light progression rules

Use after every session — especially the next morning. The hand's response to today is the input for tomorrow's dose.

Green light — progress slightly

Signals

  • Pain stays 0–3 / 10
  • Swelling does not increase
  • Motion improves or stays stable
  • Symptoms settle within a few hours
  • Next morning is not worse

Actions

  • Add 1–2 reps
  • Add 1 set
  • Add 1 daily session
  • Move to slightly firmer putty
  • Add a more complex task
  • Extend typing or work intervals
Yellow light — hold or reduce

Signals

  • Pain reaches 4–5 / 10
  • Hand feels more swollen afterward
  • Tingling increases but settles quickly
  • Motion is worse later that day

Actions

  • Reduce resistance
  • Reduce reps
  • Shorten the session
  • Add a rest day
  • Return to mobility-only routine
Red light — stop and seek professional guidance

Signals

  • Pain is sharp or escalating
  • Numbness worsens and persists
  • Fingers become cold, blue, pale, or very swollen
  • Wound opens or drains
  • Sudden pop or loss of motion
  • Finger locks repeatedly and painfully
  • New deformity appears

Actions

  • Stop the routine
  • Contact your clinician or seek urgent care
  • Document what changed and when

Track these every few days

  • Can you identify textures with eyes closed?
  • Is numbness shrinking, stable, or spreading?
  • Any cold sensitivity?
  • Any skin breakdown from poor sensation?

Ready to try a gentle session?

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