Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

Hello,

it started off with a slight numbness in my pinky and part of my ring finger (1.5 months ago). About 2 weeks back, I started feeling a pull along with some pain (in my ring/pinky and the area of the hand right underneath it) whenever I moved my wrist or bent my elbow. After an NCV, the neurologist diagnosed it as Cubital Tunnel Syndrome.

I consulted an orthopedic surgeon and he suggested I take oxyzapam 10mg and vitamin B1 300 mg (daily) for two weeks. He also said I should keep my elbow in hot water for a while before sleeping. About one week has passed without any change. The doctor has suggested that I have surgery (ulnar nerve decompression) after two weeks but I am really scared of getting it done.

Is there any way this thing can be cured without surgery? Please help me; I'm in a lot of discomfort.

Thanks!

[Killroy]

I am in the same boat. Ive had it for over 4 months now and have done all the correct conservative treatment and it keeps getting worse. My pinky,ring finger and that whole edge of the hand is rock solid totally numb, weak and clumbsy. Everything I read and every doctor says it will never get better on its own and needs surgery to prevent permenent damage. The surgery sucks and takes 3 months to recover from and might not even help but left alone the hand will become a useless claw. I would have already had the surgery but I also am suffering from probable multiple sclerosis which began at the same time and may or may not be related. Each night I pray to God I will die in my sleep or get better cause I cant stand living in such misery day after day for over 4 months with no answeres and no end in sight. good luck with your surgery, your gonna need it and so am I

[ybawany]

Hello Killroy,

Mine is getting better on its own, Thank God! The pain is almost gone but the numbness is still there. I went to the doctor yesterday and he insisted that I have surgery. That is so absurd - I mean there has got to be some way to treat this.

Anyways, I've been doing the following - maybe they'll help you too:

1. Try keeping your arm straight as much as possible - wear a sponge or a soft cast over your elbow to remind you not to bend your elbow
2. Keep your arm in hot water (as much as you can bear) - this really helps and you'll feel better in a couple of weeks
3. Apply some balm like deep heat or something on your wrist and elbow - make sure you just apply it without massaging the area
4. Try sleeping straight with your arm straight by your side - if you want, you can actually wear something on your elbow to prevent bending it during sleep. Your upper arm (i.e. area near the shoulders) will hurt a little in the morning because it would be a little sore (keeping your arm straight does that) but slightly flexing your arm without applying pressure will relieve that
5. Try sleeping on a very thin pillow so that if you sleep straight, you won't have a lot of soreness in your upper arm (in the morning)

Hope it helps!

Regards,
Ybawany

[madmel]

i've had surgery on the cubital tunnel syndrome and it kinda helped. if i use my hand a lot it hurts and the whole  side of my hand kinda burns. its a real hot sensation. the surgery did  go fine. i had it done the 10th of jan and i'am still fighting it. so maybe it didn't do as well as i think. but some  days its back to normal. so go figure.

[activechick]

Oh my goodness, before you consider surgery, go find someone who does ASTYM treatment.  You can probably find a provider online if you search for ASTYM.  Good luck!

[madmel]

i saw the doc for the last time. and it is 5 months after i had surgery. my hand is getting better everyday. i did have the surgery the 10th of jan. the doc  i had suggested immediately. i had a nerve test first and the second week i had
surgery.my doc said use my hand and arm. but be careful about lifting. there  is lite at the end of the tunnel.

[happycamper696]

This is my first time ever to post on a forum and I'm a little nervous. I had an ulnar nerve transposition about 6 years ago and I 'm very glad I had the procedure done. It does however take a very long time to recover from this surgery. Within weeks I no longer had the numbness in my pinky and ring finger but I had pain in my entire hand for months. It actually took about 2 years for the nerves to heal and calm down and at times the pain in my fingers could be quite overwhelming. I did wonder during these painful times if I had done the right thing in having this surgery but now, years later, my pain is gone and my hand feels normal again. I am having the same problem with my other elbow plus Basal Joint Arthritis in the thumb of the same arm. I am delaying surgery for as long as possissble but my strength in my hand is getting very weak. At least I know what to expect from the Ulnar Nerve Transposition but I'm worried about the Basal Joint surgery. Please let me hear from others who have had this  thumb surgery so I will know what to expect. Good Luck to all of you Ulnar Nerve surgery candidates, you probably won't regret the surgery but don't expect immediate pain relief. Thanks for letting me post on your site, I hope I did everything right.