If you find yourself becoming anxious or impatient, retreat a few steps and simply allow the hedgehog to relax in your lap while you take some deep breaths and relax your body. If you are familiar with the use of healing techniques based on the body aura or energy field, you will find these techniques useful in dealing with abused and neglected hedgehogs. Every living creature has an enerygy field that coexists with the physical body. By working to correct imbalances and damage to this aura, you can help heal the physical body as well. Again, you must make sure you are in a relaxed and positive frame of mind, and your hedgehog will be more relaxed in response.
Hedgehogs react adversely to negative states of mind.
The book The Natural Hedgehog contains a detailed description of this and other techniques used in hedgehog rehabilitation. You can use any of these exercises as often as you like. The most important thing is that you are relaxed when working with an abused or neglected hedgehog. It is better to skip a day in your rehabilitation than to attempt to soothe the animal when you are stressed.