Occupational Therapy Tips to Protect Yourself and Stay Safe with Compensatory Strategies
Our nerves are constantly sending messages to the brain to help us navigate the world around us. Among these, protective sensation is one of the most vital. This type of sensation helps us recognize potential dangers, such as extreme temperatures or sharp edges, before they cause harm.
After nerve injuries or trauma, sensation can change dramatically. Let’s explore the types of sensations you might experience and strategies to compensate for changes to keep yourself safe and prevent further injury.
Types of Sensation After Nerve Injury
Let’s first describe the continuum of sensation created when touch receptors in the skin send messages to the brain for interpretation:
Normal Sensation: This is what we all strive for: clear, accurate messages from the skin to the brain, warning us of potential dangers and allowing for fine discrimination (such as the texture of fabrics or the edges of objects) Our fingertips have so many nerve endings that we can detect the difference between a penny and a dime in our pocket without looking at the coins.
Discriminative Sensation: This allows you to tell the difference between shapes, textures, and forces, like the difference between a smooth marble and a rough stone. Or the fact that points touch your skin versus one point.
Protective Sensation: This is your body’s alarm system, alerting you to pain, temperature extremes, and sharp objects. It helps prevent injuries by prompting you to withdraw your hand from a hot stove or sharp blade.
Anesthetic Sensation (or Complete Loss of Sensation:) This occurs when nerve damage is so severe that you no longer feel anything in the affected area. It’s a dangerous situation because you can’t rely on pain or temperature signals to warn you of harm.
Why Compensation is Crucial
When protective sensation is impaired, you’re at greater risk for injuries like burns, cuts, and blisters. These are injuries that might have been prevented with a normal sense of touch. The last thing you need is a new injury to set back your recovery. You can take proactive steps to compensate and stay safe.
Use Your Intact Senses
Your eyes and your other hand can be your best friends. Look for visual cues like steam from a hot cup or frost on a cold surface. Gently touch objects with your unaffected hand to assess temperature and texture before engaging the injured side.
Do Regular Skin Checks
Observe your skin for signs of stress, like redness, warmth, swelling, or blistering. If you notice any of these, stop the activity and care for the area to prevent further damage.
Avoid Heat, Cold, and Sharp Objects
Sounds simple, I know, but it’s essential. Be mindful of tools or objects that can quickly transfer heat or cold to your skin. For example, metal shovels in winter or worn-out oven mitts can increase your risk. Protect yourself with well-insulated, dry gloves and check frequently during tasks. Act like an airline pilot and thoroughly inspect your equipment as a habit.
Mind Your Grip
When gripping objects, apply just enough force to get the job done. Excessive pressure can cause skin breakdown and blanching (paleness from reduced blood flow to the skin capillaries). Note that the smaller the handle, the less distribution of pressure over the gripping surface. If a handle feels too small, wrap it with foam or choose a more ergonomic option. Rotate tools often to give your hand a break.
Maintain Skin Health
Keep your skin hydrated and pliable with a low-pH moisturizer like Eucerin, Curel, CereVe, Nivea, or Aquaphor (or my favorite life hack to save money: purchase “house brand” formulations of these brand names.) Well-moisturized skin is more resilient and less prone to cracking or injury. Apply frequently.
Your Safety is Our Priority
At Katherine Jackson Occupational Therapy, PLLC, we’re committed to helping you regain confidence in your daily life, including managing sensory changes after nerve injuries. Understanding how different sensations work and how to compensate effectively empowers you to protect yourself from further harm.
If you live near Evanston, IL and you’ve experienced changes in sensation following an injury, reach out to us. Together, we’ll develop a personalized strategy to keep you safe and support your recovery.
Stay proactive. Stay safe. Feel empowered.
If you don’t live near Evanston, IL and need to locate a hand therapist, click the link to find a provider near you.
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