Emergency and Urgent Care - Wool and Crepe Bandage Instructions

This leaflet contains discharge advice following your attendance to the Accident & Emergency Department (A&E).

You have been seen today by a doctor or clinician and have been diagnosed as suffering from a soft tissue injury. This means you have an injury to a ligament, tendon, or muscle. This injury does NOT involve the bone. A wool and crepe bandage has been applied to your injured limb. Please wear this for as long as advised by the clinician or doctor that you were seen by.

General advice

• Remove the bandage if your fingers or toes become blue, white, cold, numb or if you experience ‘pins and needles’. If there is no improvement of the above symptoms, please seek further advice at your local A&E
• Avoid wearing nail varnish, rings, or other jewellery on the affected limb until your injury has healed
• Avoid getting the bandage wet if it does get wet remove it and let it dry
• Move your fingers and toes on the affected limb as much as possible to avoid them becoming stiff and painful
• The bandage can become loose after a few days, it can be removed, washed and re-applied

Rest

For the next 24 to 48 hours rest your injured limb, keeping your affected limb raised up (elevated). Keep gently moving your limb to prevent stiffness.

Ice

Apply ice or something cool every 2 hours for 20 minutes for the next 24 to 48 hours, ensure the ice or frozen peas is wrapped in cloth or a towel. Do not apply it directly onto the skin as this could cause a burn.

Elevation

Raise your limb when resting, try to elevate your limb above the level of your heart. This will help reduce the swelling significantly. Continue to elevate as long as the swelling persists.

Pain killers

Take simple pain killers such as paracetamol and/or ibuprofen which can be purchased from a chemist or shop. Take the medication according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Follow up

There will be no routine follow up for patients with this type of soft tissue injury. It can take 2 to 6 weeks for strains and sprains to heal.

If after 3 to 6 weeks you are still:

• Experiencing significant pain or swelling
• Struggling to weight bear or use your injured limb

Please contact the Emergency department for further advice on 0161 627 8926.

The Royal Oldham Hospital, Rochdale Road, Oldham, OL1 2JH.