Information for patients and visitors
For more information about our Trust and the services we provide please visit our website: www.nlg.nhs.uk
Desensitisation Advice Sheet
Physiotherapy / Hand Therapy Community & Therapy Services
This leaflet has been designed to explain the benefits of the treatment activity you have been taught, act as a reminder of technique and who to contact with any questions.
Information for patients and visitors
For more information about our Trust and the services we provide please visit our website: www.nlg.nhs.uk
Introduction This leaflet has been designed to give you information and act as a reminder of the techniques you have been taught to manage your condition. The guidelines should only be used following consultation with your Hand Therapist.
What is Desensitisation? Desensitisation is a technique used to decrease the sensitivity of a scar or injured area.
What should I do? When carrying out your home programme it is important to carry out all four stages each time.
At first the exercises may be uncomfortable, even painful, but it is important to persevere with them.
In time you should find that you have become more tolerant to things that caused discomfort or pain, and that the irritability has decreased.
1. Massage
• Using a moisturising cream gently use your uninjured thumb and massage the sensitive area. You may want to begin away from the sensitive area and gradually move towards it. Massage in circular motions keeping a constant pressure and contact with the skin. You may roll your thumb or tap gently over the area
• Gradually increase the pressure you apply as the area becomes less sensitive
• Vibration is effective in treating hypersensitivity. You can use the head of an electric toothbrush as above
• Massage the area for between 5-10 minutes until the area feels numb
2. Texture Massage
• Use a variety of textures, (for example – smooth, fluffy, rough – cotton, wool, silk, flannel, sandpaper etc) and work out the order of which texture causes the least discomfort and which causes the most discomfort
• Begin with one texture which causes you the LEAST discomfort
• Gently rub the texture around the area moving towards the sensitive area – ensure that the texture is in constant contact with the skin and the pressure is constant throughout. Continue to rub the texture over the sensitive area for approximately 5 minutes or until the area is no longer sensitive to that texture
• After one hour return to the SAME texture, continue until this no longer causes abnormal feelings – THEN progress to the texture which causes slightly more discomfort and repeat
Information for patients and visitors
For more information about our Trust and the services we provide please visit our website: www.nlg.nhs.uk
• It may take a few sessions before you feel able to move on to the next texture
3. Immersion Massage
• Fill a number of bowls with different particles of varying textures(smooth to rough) e.g. lentils, rice pasta sand etc
• Establish an order as before – least comfortable to the most. Place your hand into the bowl which causes the least discomfort and move the hand around in stirring motions, varying the speed and direction
• Once the particles become tolerable it is time to progress on to the next bowl
• You can also put small objects such as buttons/keys etc into the bowl to pick out when able
• You can also bounce your hand gently up and down in the particles
4. Function It is important to use your hand in normal functional tasks and daily activities as soon as you are able. Following the above desensitisation programme, carry out an activity such as washing the dishes, playing cards, writing or work related tasks. Ensure you know that the task you are about to do is ACHIEVABLE. This will reinforce normal functional use of the injured area.
Remember Try to carry out this treatment 5 – 6 times daily.
It may take several sessions until you notice an improvement.
It is important to be consistent with this treatment. The more consistent you are the faster your symptoms will be relieved.
Benefits Less hyper-sensitivity in the affected area.
Risks No improvement if the above programme is not carried out.
Contact Details for Further Information
Your Therapist is: _________________________
Contact number: __________________________
Information for patients and visitors
For more information about our Trust and the services we provide please visit our website: www.nlg.nhs.uk
Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) The Patient Advice and Liaison Service offers confidential advice, support and information on any health related matters.
If you have a comment, concern, complaint or compliment about the care or service you have received from the Trust you can contact the PALS team as follows:
Telephone: 03033 306518
Email: [email protected]
There are also offices at both the Diana Princess of Wales Hospital (near the main entrance) and Scunthorpe General Hospital (on the C Floor, near the outpatient department), should you wish to visit.
Please note: PALS should not be contacted for clini cal advice relating to the content of this leaflet. The service should be contacted directly in the first instance.
Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trus t Diana Princess of Wales Hospital Scartho Road Grimsby DN33 2BA
Scunthorpe General Hospital Cliff Gardens Scunthorpe DN15 7BH
Goole & District Hospital Woodland Avenue Goole DN14 6RX
03033 306999 www.nlg.nhs.uk
Date of Issue: July, 2018
Review Period: July, 2021
Author: Therapy Services
IFP-0948
© NLGFT 2018
