Trapped Ulnar Nerve

[Retro]

Hi Hayley,

In short I haven't got a clue but...one would think...logically that if something can get trapped then it can get released naturally???

Lindsey

[ladyred]

Hi Hayley

Mine does it all the time. I can have weeks of pain, then nothing for a few weeks and so the cycle goes on. Don't cancel the surgery - just in case. If you're not sure, maybe your GP could advise ??

San

[Hayley]

That's a good idea San, I'll mention it to her.

Hayley

[ombili]

I was just thinking about this thread this morning and wanted to look it up. I guess I'll still need to do some research on this. The reason I thought of it is that as you may know I have had a ton of shoulder, wrist and hand pain (but no elbow pain) for a long time. Last night I got my OH to give me a massage, and when he'd press on one part of my shoulderblade, the pain was just excruciating - made me want to cry, like a really, really, intense aching - and I also felt it in my hand and wrist, just like they feel a lot of the time. This got me thinking it must be a trapped nerve.

For those of you who have experience with that, does it sound like a trapped nerve to you? Or something else? I am already getting treated for my hip tendons and foot tendon so I don't feel like I can ask my doc at the moment - generally she can deal with one or two things at a time.

[Retro]

I've got sore elbows The right is worse, it feels like someone's pressing on my ulnar nerve in my elbow (where it hurts if you bang your not even remotely "funny" bone). I've been doing quite a lot of note writing for the past day or so with my course work and have a lot more to do. Anyone got any advice, please?

Lindsey

[barkingmad]

the only things that work for me is heat and TENS. I can lend you some hideous hinged elbow braces . I tried steriod injections but didnt work and Prof G banned me from having any more, sometimes tubigrip helps as well as wrapping lots of elastoplast round your pens so that you dont have to grip them so finely. Apart from that its just rest, rest and more rest and in my case that doesnt work either!

[Retro]

hmmm....tens I'll give that a go, have already put elbows on my list for last physio appointment, will maybe give him a phone, thanks.

Lindsey

[Sandy L]

Some possibilities:
Try to pick a position that minimizes the flexion at the elbow. Look out for resting your elbow on the arm of a chair or anything else that can put pressure there. Get a basketball elbow guard: it will encourage straightening the elbow a bit and wll distribute pressure away from the nerve.

[barkingmad]

I was hoping you would pop on here! Thanks Sandy from me!

[JoSo]

rather then starting a new post i thaught i'd rant on this one........
10 months ago i fell off the high bar af gymnastics and dislocated both the bones in my left elbow in oposite directions, nothing fractured but there was massive tissue dammage and i was in a removable plaster cast for 6 weeks till it started to stabilize ...many months of physio and strapping and iceing and resting later i'm back at gymnastics with my elbow braces to prevent hyperextention....last nite i was on the trampoline and i landed on my elbow wrong and got the 'not so funny' funny bone pain followed by numbness and tingling in my fingers and wrist...i've done this before (walking into a door frame ) and after an hour and some ice and ibuprofen my elbow was back to 'normal' if a litle sore....i thaught last nite would be the same but after pleanty of ice and some rest and painkilers i still have pins and needles in my hand and my fingers feel a little bit, numb isn't the right word, but the sensation isn't quite right. the elbow joint is a little bruised and swolen and i can't quite get my arm straight but it'll will be ok in time its just the pins and needles i don't know what to do about? should i just leave it and see, mum reckons i've irritated the nerve and this is it fighting back so rest will make it better?
any thaughts welcome
Jo x x

[Ali13]

I trapped my ulnar nerve after my shoulder went AWOL a few months back- but it mustn't have been badly squished because it didn't REALLY hurt, it was just very uncomfortable and caused tingling and pins and needles in my hand across my ring and little fingers. My GP just said it would go away but it took aaaaggges! He said that two weeks ago about my collarbone issues...

[Sue New]

Hi Guys,

Time resurrect this old thread I am afriad . I went to see the hand surgeon today as he has been treating me for both my instable right thumb and my clicky elbow. I was pleased to report that my right thumb is now pain free after having a 2nd steroid injection, but happened to mention in passing about the increasing numbness I have been getting on the outer side of both little fingers. I wish I had kept quiet now . Basically, the surgeon did a thorough investigation and was able to evoke the numbness by tapping against the nerve going up my forearm and ha diagnosed me with ulnar nerve entrapment on both sides. He says the right is the worst and has already put me on the waiting list to have that one operated on, and has ordered nerve conduction studies on both arms to see the extent of the damage. He kept going on about irreversable damage and that the longer it is left the worse it can get.

My trouble is I have had soooo many operations lately (already 2 this year) and as well as work going bullistic, my Mum is worried about the strain it is putting on my body to have all these general anaesthetics (this will be my 13th general as it happens not that I am superstitious).

Part of me understands that it needs to be done, but the other part of me is so fed up that I keep having to have one procedure or another done all th time. The surgeon didn't even discuss conservative treatment, which I would much rather try before going done the route of another op.

I am seeing the rheumy at Stanmore in a week or two, so I will try to discuss it with him when I see him. I jsut know my hubby will be annoyed too, as for some reason, rather than being sympathetic, he just shouts and moans at me when I tell him I need more surgery. I guess he is worried (as am I) that I may end up losing my job as I need so much time off work each year.

I am a bit dejected at the moment as you can probablly tell

Sue

[Sandy L]

When there are bilateral symptoms, the nerve conduction studies are important, since that can often be a problem at the neck/upper back. The procedure for treating ulnar nerve entrapment, I think, is usually to make a small incision at the elbow, loosen the nerve where it comes around the back of the elbow on the side nearest your body, and relocate it to the front of the elbow, so that it doesn't stretch and is better protected against pressure.

If you haven't done it yet, try the athletic elbow guard mentioned on the February 9 post. Maybe you could finesse the surgery.

[Sue New]

Thanks Dr Sandy

I have previously had an MRI that shows cervical root compression (I can't remember at what level but C4/5 rings a bell). I will check my report out later.

Thanks for the tip about the elbow supports - I will look into that.

Sue xx

[Stone]

Sorry to hear that Sue, sounds a bit like me! (have ulnar nerve compromise both sides but it's normally OK unless I lean my arms on the sofa armrests). From what I was told there basically isn't any conservative treatment - and at least he's concerned enough to mention that you want to move reasonably swiftly. Rather that than be ignored for ages and have it get really bad!

Good luck with it anyway, whatever you decide to do

Stone