Going home after your visit
Using your sling
How to wear your sling and keep your arm healthy while it heals.
You have been given a sling to rest and support your arm while it heals. Here is how to use it properly, and how to keep your arm and hand healthy while you are wearing it.
Your care details
To be completed by the team before you leave.
this Emergency Department your nearest A&E other:
none needed
Come back to A&E or an urgent treatment centre if any of these happen
These can be signs your hand is not getting enough blood, or is being squeezed too tightly.
- Your fingers go numb, tingle, or you cannot feel them
- Your fingers turn pale, blue or cold
- You cannot move your fingers
- Pain or swelling in your hand or arm gets worse
- The strap is rubbing your skin red or raw
CALL 999 Call 999 if your hand stays cold and pale or blue and does not get better when you take the sling off and raise your hand.
Wearing your sling
- Sit your hand a little higher than your elbow in the sling.
- Wear it as you were told — all the time, or just in the day.
- If you were told you can, take it off for gentle elbow, wrist and finger moves.
- Pad the strap with a soft cloth if it digs into your neck.
- Keep the sling clean and dry.
Keeping your arm healthy
- Wiggle your fingers often to ease stiffness and swelling.
- Keep your hand raised when you can.
- Take off any rings now, in case your hand swells.
- Take paracetamol or ibuprofen for pain if you can take them.
What is normal at first
While your arm heals it is common to feel:
Some achingMild stiffnessA little swellingBruising
This should slowly settle. See the warning signs above if it gets worse.
Where to get help
999
Life-threatening emergency, or a red-flag symptom above
111
Urgent but not life-threatening, or you're not sure — call or visit 111.nhs.uk, 24/7
Your team
Use the department phone in Your care details above