Cubital Tunnel

Syndrome

What Is Cubital Tunnel Syndrome?

What Are Its Causes?Many things can cause the ulnar nerve to get pinched. Some of them include:

• Holdingaphonetotheearforalongtime• Leaningonelbowsforalongtime• Sleepingwitharmstightlybent• Asuddenelbowinjury• Apastelbowfracture(lessfrequent)

What Are Its Symptoms?Symptomscanbeminoratfirst.Buttheymayworsenovertime.Commonsymptomsinclude:

• Numbnessortinglinginringandlittlefingers• Lossoffingerorhandstrength• Inabilitytostraightenfingers• Sharp,suddenpainwhenelbowistouched

Cubitaltunnelsyndromeisasetofsymptomsthat may occur if the ulnar nerve in your elbowgetspinched.Thismayhappenifyoubendorleanonyourelbowsoften.

Bending your elbow as you hold a phone can cause problems over time.

Thecubital tunnelisagrooveinabonenearyourelbow.Thisnarrowgrooveprovidesa passage for the ulnar nerve, one of the mainnervesinyourarm.Theulnarnervecancause“funnybone”painifyourelbowgetsbumped.Yourcubitaltunnelhelpsprotect this nerve as it passes through your elbowanddowntoyourfingers.

Compressing the Ulnar NerveBendingyourelbowcompressestheulnarnerveinsidethecubitaltunnel.Thenervecangetinflamed(irritated)afterconstantbendingandpinchingoraftergettinghurt.Overtime,thiscanleadtopainornumbness.Thepainis often felt in your ring and little fingers.

The Cubital Tunnel

Ulnar nerve in cubital tunnel

Yourdoctorwilllookatyourhandandelbowandaskyouaboutyourdailytasks.Youalsomayhavesometests.Mosttreatmentforcubitaltunnelsyndromebeginswithchangingyouractionsthatmayhavecausedtheproblem.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Getting TreatmentRest,medication,andchangesinhowyoudotaskscanhelpyoueasepain.Youmaytry:

• Activerest(doingmosttaskswhilefindingwaystorestyourelbow)

• Takingmedicationtoreduceswelling• Switchingtoaheadset-stylephone• Usingpadsunderyourelbow• Sleepingwithyourarmstraight• Wearingaspecialelbowsplintatnight

Making a DiagnosisYourwork,hobbies,orevenhowyousleepmaybebehindyourpain.Yourdoctorwillaskaboutthemtohelplearnwhat’scausingyoursymptoms.Testsmaythenbedonetoruleoutotherproblemsandto confirm a diagnosis.

• Nerve conduction measures the speed of nerve signals running through your ulnar nerve.

• Electromyogram (EMG) testing reveals problemswiththemusclesinyourarm.

• X-rayscanruleoutfractures,arthritis,orotherproblemsthatmaycauseyoursymptoms.

A nerve conduction test can show how quickly your nerve signals travel.

If Surgery Is NeededIfrestingyourelbowdoesn’twork,yourdoctormaysuggestsurgery.Thisshiftstheulnarnervefromthebacktothefrontofthecubitaltunnel.Surgeryalsomayremovepartofthebone.Thiscanreleasethenervefromthetunnel.Yourdoctorwillexplainthe details.

Using a phone headset can help reduce pain.

This product is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. ©2010 The StayWell Company. www.krames.com 800-333-3032 All rights reserved.

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Preventing Flare-Ups

Youcankeepcubitaltunnelsyndromefromflaringup.Avoidpinchingtheulnarnervebykeepingyourarmstraightasmuchasyoucan,evenwhilesleeping.Andusephoneheadsetsandelbowpads.Ifyoustillhavepain,tellyourdoctor.