Choosing the right hand surgeon is a very personal decision. You will want a hand surgeon that you feel comfortable with and whom you trust. Houston hand surgeon, Dr. Lapuerta will meet with you in a confidential consultation to answer all of your questions about the treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome and to give you one on one time to get to know him.

Dr. Lapuerta is a board certified hand surgeon with the American Society for Surgery of the Hand and is also board certified with the American Board of Surgery. These certifications with prestigious societies ensure that he has the knowledge and experience needed to correct your carpal tunnel syndrome.

Dr. Lapuerta is qualified to diagnose and treat your carpal tunnel syndrome. He can treat your carpal tunnel with non-surgical and surgical techniques depending on the severity of the syndrome. The hand has many tendons and nerves that are responsible for moving the fingers, thumb, palm, and wrist. A certified hand surgeon is the only surgeon qualified to correct carpal tunnel syndrome.

Your hands are an important part of your life and you deserve to live without being in pain. If you live in the Houston area and would like to speak with Dr. Lapuerta about carpal tunnel syndrome, please contact the office of the Plastic Surgery Institute of Southeast Texas.

Carpal tunnel syndrome can affect men and women at any age. The syndrome is caused by pressure applied to the median nerve in the bottom section of the wrist leading to the hand. The median nerve is housed in the carpal tunnel with nine tendons that control the feelings and movements of the hand. Swelling in the wrists and swelling of the tendons can cause the median nerve to be pinched or squeezed. This can cause several symptoms that lead to various levels of discomfort.

Houston hand surgeon, Dr. Lapuerta treats patients who suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome with non-surgical and surgical treatments. There are many levels of carpal tunnel syndrome and the intensity of the symptoms vary.

The common symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome are:

• Burning
• Tingling
• Itching
• Numbness
• Pain

These symptoms are apparent in the wrist, palm of the hand, and the fingers. The median nerve does not control the little finger. These symptoms only appear in the thumb, index finger, middle finger, and part of the ring finger.

Symptoms of carpal tunnel usually begin at night. Sleeping with wrist guards will keep the wrists in a neutral position and aid in your comfort during sleep. Pain, numbness, or tingling may wake you up during the night. You may notice relief when you shake your wrists. Symptoms may appear during the day as the syndrome worsens. Carpal tunnel usually affects both wrists. One hand is often affected more than the other.

If you are experiencing pain in your wrists and live in the Houston area, please contact the Plastic Surgery Institute of Texas for a carpal tunnel syndrome consultation.

Depending on the severity of your carpal tunnel syndrome, Houston hand surgeon, Dr. Lapuerta will either provide you with non-surgical treatments or with a surgical treatment to correct your carpal tunnel. There are many levels of severity when it comes to carpal tunnel syndrome. Some patients find that they can relieve their symptoms and increase their comfort level with non-surgical treatments. Other patients find that non-surgical treatments only provide some relief and a surgical treatment is required for long-term relief.

No matter what level of severity your carpal tunnel syndrome is, Dr. Lapuerta will correct the issues causing the syndrome and improve your comfort level. There are many options for carpal tunnel treatment.

Non-surgical Treatments for Carpal Tunnel

Dr. Lapuerta may suggest non-surgical treatments if your carpal tunnel is not severe enough to require hand surgery. In a consultation about your carpal tunnel syndrome, Dr. Lapuerta will examine your wrists and ask you many questions about your symptoms to decide which non-surgical treatments will benefit you the most. Non-surgical treatments include:

• Wearing wrists guards while you sleep to keep your wrists in a neutral position
• Icing your wrists several times a day to reduce swelling
• Taking an over the counter anti-inflammatory medication like Ibuprofen

Surgical Treatments for Carpal Tunnel

Surgical treatment is used when non-surgical treatments have not helped or provided the patient with any relief. Surgical treatment involves making incisions in the wrist to access the carpal tunnel and relieve the pressure on the median nerve.

Dr. Lapuerta will explain all the treatment options available to you in a consultation about your carpal tunnel syndrome. Please contact Dr. Lapuerta at the Plastic Surgery Institute of Southeast Texas to schedule a consultation in Houston.

Carpal tunnel syndrome affects many people in Houston. However, some of these people do not know that the pain they experience in their wrists is caused by carpal tunnel syndrome and can easily be treated. Houston hand surgeon, Dr. Lapuerta treats patients who suffer from pain and tingling in their wrists and answers the question “What is carpal tunnel?”

¬¬¬The carpal tunnel is located at the base of the hand and wrist and is comprised of the median nerve and nine tendons. The carpal bones surround the median nerve and tendons on three sides and form an arch where the nerve and tendons pass through. The median nerve and the tendons are responsible for the movement, feeling, and function of the thumb, index finger, middle finger, and half of the ring finger.

The syndrome known as carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the tunnel housing the median nerve becomes narrow and compresses the nerve. Swelling in the wrist or swelling of the tendons in the carpal tunnel can cause the tunnel to narrow and compress the median nerve.

The symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include:

• Pain that starts in the fingers and may affect the arm up to the elbow
• Numbness in the wrist, hand, and fingers
• Weakness in the wrist and hand
• Burning, tingling, or itching sensations in the hand and fingers

If you notice any of these symptoms and would like to speak with Houston hand surgeon, Dr. Lapuerta, please contact Plastic Surgery Institute of Southeast Texas today to schedule a consultation.