ulna nerve entrapment

[andyD714]

Hi there:
I have been having symptoms of ulna nerve entrapment for a little over 3 weeks.
The first week i was given prednisone by my regular doctor to suppress the inflamation.  It helped a little bit but the tingling and numbness were still there.  I then took ibuprofen as needed for a week.  Now i'm back on prednisone, it's better but the symptoms are not going away completely.
What can I do to make them go away?
Should I see a neurologist?
Thanks

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello Andy.

It is important for you to know where the entrapment is happening. The cause of entrapment should be treated, not just the symptoms.

You should see a neurologist soon.

Regards

[andyD714]

Thank you so much for your quick response and your suggestion.  Matter of fact, my doctor said the same thing, seeing a neurologist.  
As you might not know, I have had bad experience with doctors I do not know well before.  I had some sore throat problem, went see a specialist.  He insisted on perform a nose surgery on me and made me believe that it could help my sore throat problem.  Well I got the surgery but the throat problem is still there.  Worse, I felt like my health is worse than before the surgery.  Perhaps it's all in my head.
Anyway, I really really don't want to see the neurologist unless I have no other options.  And about getting a surgery, I really don't want that at all.  
Any suggestion about perhaps excercise, or medications? or wait a little longer?

Thank you so much
Andy

[usarmymedic1]

first step in treatment should be night splinting arm at 30-45 degrease of flexion and wearing an elbow pad during the day to protect your elbow from banging it and allowing it to rest and heal anti imflamitories shuold help. Nero will be able to tell you were the compression is and how severe it is by the EMG it shows the nero how slowed down the nerve transfers electricity through it at the compression site it will be slow were every were else will be with normal limits. I am not a dr but I have 6 years experiance as a occupational therapy assistant in hand therapy and that is the normal treatment we would start out with.

[ace911]

     Hi, I also have a simillar situation with tingling and numbness in my pinky and ring finger, with progressive weakness of hand strength throughout the day.  I saw neurologist after about ten days of experiencing this, he recommended an emg test for nerve conduction. Did not take the test.  I learned that it might be an ulnar nerve entrapment with associated median nerve entrapment.  Is there a possiblity of a spontanous recovery and is this just the beginning of a serious problem, It seems that I have been gaining strength in the affected hand over the past few days.  Causes of entrapment may have been banging the elbow or overhead pulldowns with a close grip. R there any stretching excercises that may help release the nerve from either the cervical region or the elbow region and can I resume weight training or wait.  N E help would be great, thanks..  

[Suri123]

Hi andyD714, how are you doing? Hope you are feeling better by now? I suggest you to consult a neurologist and get an Electromyogram done which is the diagnostic test for nerve involvement disorders. Depending upon the result you can go for a second opinion from a neurologist. In the long run the pain will increase, and you will have only temporary symptomatic relief with pain medications.  It is not advisable to take prednisolone on long-term basis as you may develop complication. It is always better to treat the cause and have a permanent relief. Keep updating on the progress.Take care.