Why Do Scars Stay Sensitive Months After Surgery?

Your wound has healed, the stitches are gone, yet the scar still feels sore, itchy, or overly sensitive. Sound familiar? You’re not alone — and it’s not a sign that something’s wrong. Scar sensitivity is a normal part of recovery, but it needs the right kind of attention to settle.

What’s Really Going On

After surgery or injury, tiny sensory nerves in the skin and tissue need to reconnect. As they regenerate, they can send mixed signals — the brain often interprets harmless sensations (like fabric brushing the scar) as painful or sharp.

At the same time, healing tissue can tighten, stick, or pull on deeper layers, keeping those nerves irritated. Even small pockets of swelling or stiffness nearby can keep the area on high alert.

Why It Lingers

1. Nerve regeneration – New nerve endings are still finding their way home, creating unpredictable sensations.

2. Tissue tension – Tight or adherent scars restrict glide, tugging on delicate structures underneath.

3. Residual swelling – Fluid build-up stretches the skin and compresses nerves.

4. Protective habits – Guarding, posture changes, and overprotection can keep sensitivity alive.

How to Calm Things Down

The goal isn’t to toughen the scar — it’s to re-educate the nerves and tissues. Here’s how:

• Gentle touchLightly stroke or tap the area with soft textures like cotton or silk, gradually progressing to firmer materials. This helps your brain relearn that touch is safe.

• Scar glidingOnce healed, move the skin around the scar in small circular motions. This restores tissue mobility and reduces local tension.

• Vibration or light pressureGentle handheld vibration or tapping can help desensitise the nerves and reduce the “sting” some people feel.

• Movement with mobilityMove the joint while supporting the skin’s glide — e.g. bending your wrist or finger while lightly shifting the skin in different directions.

• Swelling managementElevate, move, and apply gentle compression if needed. Reducing pressure around nerves often decreases sensitivity.

What to Avoid

• Over-massaging — more pressure isn’t better; it can inflame the area.

• Ignoring discomfort — persistent, worsening, or spreading sensitivity should be assessed.

• Leaving it untouched — doing nothing often prolongs sensitivity.

The Bigger Picture

Scar sensitivity isn’t just skin deep. The nervous system learns from experience — so calming, consistent input helps retrain it. Combined with good movement, posture, and reassurance, sensitivity usually fades and confidence returns.

At LG Hand Therapy, we look at the whole picture — from local tissue health to how your shoulder, nerves, and movement patterns affect recovery. With the right techniques, that “sharp” or “burning” scar can become just another part of your healed story.

If your scar still feels tender or reactive, book a Scar Sensitivity Assessment to learn gentle techniques and speed up recovery.