EXPERT
Dr. Michael Pensak
Hand Surgeon
Dr. Michael Pensak is a hand surgeon practicing in Toms River, NJ. Dr. Pensak specializes in caring for hand, wrist and forearm problems without the option of surgery unless necessary. Many hand surgeons are also experts in diagnosing and caring for shoulder and elbow problems and tend to suggest non-surgical treatments such as hand therapy or physical therapy.
15 years
Experience
Dr. Michael Pensak
- Toms River, NJ
- SUNY Downstate
- Accepting new patients
No results found
Can you surgically get rid of arthritis?
Yes. Either through joint replacement, joint fusion or soft tissue reconstructions.
When can you pick something up after hand surgery?
Totally depends on why you had surgery. Certain elective hand procedure for soft tissue problems allow for almost immediate lifting afterwards. More complex procedures like nerve READ MORE
Totally depends on why you had surgery. Certain elective hand procedure for soft tissue problems allow for almost immediate lifting afterwards. More complex procedures like nerve or vessel repairs, fracture fixation, tendon repairs, etc can often have significant lifting restrictions associated with the postoperative protocols.
Will hand surgery help arthritis?
Most definitely. Depends on where the arthritis is. Many women your age suffer from thumb basal joint arthritis. Surgery for this has excellent outcomes.
Will hand surgery fix the shaking in my right hand?
Generally not. Hand shaking can often be caused by a benign essential tremor which originated in the central nervous system.
Can an x-ray miss a broken hand?
Occasionally. More often than not the radiologist will miss the findings which are evident on the plain Xrays.
After a fracture my finger seems tilted. Why?
Some of this could represent swelling in the post traumatic phase of the injury or post surgical phase, if surgery was performed. However, for a severe finger fracture there may READ MORE
Some of this could represent swelling in the post traumatic phase of the injury or post surgical phase, if surgery was performed. However, for a severe finger fracture there may be degrees of malalignment and or malrotation which could explain the deviated posture of the finger.
I am suffering from a hand pain due to sleeping on one side. What should I do?
This is most likely due to compression neuropathy. Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common upper extremity compression neuropathy. You can start by trying over the counter wrist READ MORE
This is most likely due to compression neuropathy. Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common upper extremity compression neuropathy. You can start by trying over the counter wrist brace that would keep your wrist perfectly straight while you sleep. That should alleviate any pressure on the nerve and minimize your symptomatology. If you get no relief from the brace, you should seek out a hand specialist
Irritating scar tissue, what can I do?
You may benefit from doing scar massage exercises under the supervision of a hand therapist. You may also benefit from using vitamin E cream to massage into the scar daily. Many READ MORE
You may benefit from doing scar massage exercises under the supervision of a hand therapist. You may also benefit from using vitamin E cream to massage into the scar daily. Many of the cutaneous nerves to the skin we are likely cut through. These will be temporarily irritated. It should calm down over time but may take several months.
Is burnt skin repair surgery an elective procedure?
It would be wise to wait until the pandemic situation has improved before embarking on any elective surgery.
How long does it take to recover from hand surgery?
That is a loaded question. It depends on what your surgery was and what were the reasons for your surgery being performed. Many straightforward simple hand procedures like trigger READ MORE
That is a loaded question. It depends on what your surgery was and what were the reasons for your surgery being performed. Many straightforward simple hand procedures like trigger finger release or small cyst removal’s can take on the order of a couple weeks to a couple months to improve. On the other hand, surgery for arthritis or bad fractures can take on the orders of six months to a year to fully improve.
How long is recovery after hand nerve surgery?
This will depend on what nerve was cut and where it was cut. Will also depend on whether or not this is a sensory nerve, a motor nerve, or a mixed peripheral nerve. Nerves typically READ MORE
This will depend on what nerve was cut and where it was cut. Will also depend on whether or not this is a sensory nerve, a motor nerve, or a mixed peripheral nerve. Nerves typically regenerate at 1 mm a day from where they are repaired under the best circumstances. Recovery after a nerve surgery is dependent on multiple factors such as age, mechanism of injury and associated medical comorbidities.
Can hand nerve damage be repaired?
The short answer is yes. However, it depends on what type of nerve was cut: mixed, sensory, or motor. It also depends on what the mechanism of the injury was, i.e., cut, crush, READ MORE
The short answer is yes. However, it depends on what type of nerve was cut: mixed, sensory, or motor. It also depends on what the mechanism of the injury was, i.e., cut, crush, or stretch. You have age on your side; younger patients typically do better with nerve surgeries than older patients. However, to answer this accurately, one would need to know where the nerve was cut and when it was repaired in relation to the injury.
Can a pinched nerve cause pain in your hand?
Absolutely. Many patients with carpal tunnel syndrome which is the most common Compression neuropathy in the upper extremity suffer from pain in the hand, mainly in the thumb index READ MORE
Absolutely. Many patients with carpal tunnel syndrome which is the most common Compression neuropathy in the upper extremity suffer from pain in the hand, mainly in the thumb index long and ring finger. This pain is usually worse at night when people sleep. It can often happen when they talk on the phone or comb their hair, etc.
Why is my left arm and hand tingling?
This is most likely due to carpal tunnel syndrome, the most common compression neuropathy in the upper extremity. Less commonly it could be due to cubital tunnel syndrome which READ MORE
This is most likely due to carpal tunnel syndrome, the most common compression neuropathy in the upper extremity. Less commonly it could be due to cubital tunnel syndrome which often causes numbness in the small finger and the ring finger. Additionally it could be due to a pinched nerve in your neck. It could represent a combination of all three of these entities.
