hand swollen after surgery on elbow - normal?

[cricketballs]

I had surgery yesterday on my elbow; decompression of ulna nerve to alleviate symptoms of cupital syndrome (like carpel but little finger and ring finger affected by numbness/pins & needles and lack of control).

I am in a lot of pain but my main worry is that my hand and fingers are very swollen - is this normal?

I'd call the ward and ask - when I had elbow surgery my hand didn't swell. Are you keeping your hand above your head ? Lying on the sofa with your hand up the back works well