You'll need to take medications daily, often for life, to keep your body from rejecting your donor hand (immunosuppressive medications). Mayo Clinic doctors study the effects of these medications, including their side effects and their effects on nerve recovery.
Nerve recovery occurs gradually in hand transplant. Nerve and hand function usually takes several months to recover after a hand transplant. Your hand function may continue to improve over several years.
One immunosuppressive medication, tacrolimus, may speed nerve recovery. Faster nerve recovery may reduce the amount of time before you begin to experience sensations in your hand, and your hand may return to function sooner. Doctors continue to study immunosuppressive medications to determine their effects on nerve recovery.
Request an appointment with a Mayo Clinic doctor to determine if transplant is right for you.
Mayo Clinic transplant staff can answer your questions about the transplant process and post-transplant life.
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