Ulna nerve damage

[diomede]

I went through an aromoured glass swing door that failed to swing.  I had used my right arm to open the door and because the door stuck, my right arm went through the glass up to the armpit.  I cut the ulna nerve at thw wrist, including one artery and five tendons.  I have lost the feeling in part of my hand and cannot close my ring finger to my ring finger with the fingers stretched.  I have muscle wastage between thump and index finger, above little finger on the edge of the hand and wastage between between the fingers on the back of the hand.  I believe the muscle wastage is a classic symptom of a defective  unla nerve.  Some 30 years later I have had a pension review because they believe the nerve could have grown back and now doubt my statement that things have actually got worse.  Never been thought of as a liar before and wonder if anyone could give me constructive insight into the medical issues I have, whether nerves can grow back without returning any feeling or muscle.  Although the board excepts I have HAD an accident they appear to say that the issues I am suffering from could be due to other things........Apart from the writst damage I also had a deep laceration to my right elbow as I pulled my arm back through the door..........Ten years ago I had a tennis elbow operation on the right arm, then golfers elbow on the right arm that board believes could be causing me nerve damage other than the original accident?  Any advise or guidance would be gratefully recieved.

[Neuro Forum]

Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with your doctor.

Without the ability to examine you and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of your symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.

Ulnar nerve damage does cause weakness of what is called intrinsic hand muscles, the muscles that allow our fingers to move apart and come together, and bending at some of the finger joints, movement of the wrist towards the body, etc. Whether or not a nerve regenerates depends on how badly it was injured; it sounds like you have had extensive injury since you had tendon and artery damage as well. The ulnar nerve crosses along the medial aspect of the elbow (the part of the elbow closer to the body, where the "funny bone" is). It is a common site of ulnar nerve injury.

To resolve whether or not all your problems are from damage to the nerve where you sustained injury at the wrist or else where, a study called an EMG/NCS, which looks at how nerves conduct electricity and how muscles respond could be done. This would assess the extent of damage and could also give information about the location of the damage. These studies are done by neurologists, and seeing a neurologist with a specialty in neuromuscular disorders may be of benefit to you for your questions.

Thank you for using the forum I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.

[midnightdoc]

I had the EMG/NCS and it showed I had bi-lateral Tarsal tunnel syndrome,bi-lateral Cubital tunnel syndrome and bi-lateral Carpal tunnel syndrome. I also have the one in my thigh that burns but can't remember the name. I have 3 areas in my lower back that are pinching the nerves and at the T6 level. 2 places in my cervical spine pinching the nerves. Multiple lumbar disc displacements, T6 disc displacement and 2 cervical disc displacement. My CSF protein level was 97.7. My primary Physician calls it Fibromyalgia. I'm on gabapentin 300 mg 6 times a day, cymbalta 60 mg twice in the morning, and hydrocone 3 to 4 times daily. My right elbow kills me when I pick up any weight and my ankles bother me all the time. Of course my back hurts all the time too. My question is, why would I start having all these nerve problems start up in the last year? I also had foot drop a few years back. I still haven't got an answer why my CSF protein is twice the normal amount either. Thanks. Jim