Hand numb after graft surgery

[Relentless]

I just had my graft surgery on my left upper arm yesterday morning.  After I wokeup from surgery, I noticed my left hand specially my pinky and the finger next to it was very numb and I don't have that much function on it.  I told the nurse and she said tht was to be expected in some case and will go away.  Its been 24 hours and It still has not and I'm afraid it's hand ischima.  Has anyone else had this problem and how long did it last.  My left side of my left hand is really numb and has not gotten any better.

[Hazmat35]

I had a "similar' problem when I had my Fistula put in, but not as severe. 

After wards, my hand was NUMB for days.  My surgeon explained to me, that there is much less blow flow to the hand causing the sensation.  It also makes my hand and fingers, very cold most of the time.  They are even cold to the touch.  Kind of creepy. 

If it were me, I'd exercise your arm, use a squeeze ball or something, and keep the blood pumping as much as you can.  If it keeps, up, I'd go back to the doc! 

[tyefly]

I had fistual surgery  in my upper arm  and my lower arm and part of my hand in numb..... doctor told me that it was due from compression on a nerve while in surgery.....  that was a year and a half ago..... arm  is still numb and I dont expect for it to recover....nor do they.....  they said this happens alot and just to get use to it.... as the fistula surgery was more inportant that the numbness..... So  I hope your nerves repair them selves...mine didnt..... and they say they cant fix it..... 

[Relentless]

Tht sucks.  My pinky had no strength and just flops around.  I just talk to doctor and he sd to exercise the hand and I could go away in week or 2. TyeFly, do you ever get use to the numb feeling?  right now it is real uncomfortable and i cant geta hodl of anything.

[brmoore]

     I had a graft put in my upper right arm and experienced numbness down to
my fingers. This feeling lasted for about 4 months, and slowly went away.

[tyefly]

   I still can use my hand.... but I have no feeling in my lower arm...from the crease of the elbow to my wrist...only on the bottom side.... if that make since.....   It bother me alot  at first  but now I am gettin use to it... I just need to remember not to burn my self getting something out of the oven..... my arm had been like this for a year and half now.... no change....   I was hoping that my body would repair my nerve...but not happening....   its like the surgeon says....( who did the surgery )  its pretty normal and I just need to get use to it..... 

[Zog]

Jenn had a fistula ligation a few years ago and after the surgery she couldn't feel one side of her thumb for about 3 months.  I haven't heard any complaints from her about it in a long time.  Hope you recover from whatever nerve damage you may have.  It takes several hours for a "block" to completely wear off.  If you can't feel it in the next day or so, you may have a few months of this to deal with.  There is a spot on Jenn's stomach she can't feel after she had a transplant several years ago.  Nerve damage is something they don't spend enough time trying to avoid.  The argument that "well, at least you didn't die" doesn't make any sense to me.

[sullidog]

My surgeon tells me if there's numness or coldness that to let him know right away and he can fix it.

[kitkatz]

Numbness and coldness in the hand seem pretty normal for awhile after surgery.  They messed with major veins and an artery.  Keep the doc informed how it feels.

[Stoday]

I got the problem, but only slightly after my fistula placement in my wrist. Loss os sensation down my thumb.

Took ablout three months for the feeling to return in the most part; still a little loss (say 5%) after 20 months.

[Zog]

I think you guys may be talking about two different things.

Coldness is probably Steal Syndrome, that is where your blood flow is reduced downstream from your fistula.

Lack of feeling may be nerve damage.