What do I do for a ulnar nerve compression?

[johnnie]

It's starting to drive me nuts. My pinky and ring finger are numb. I guess no one here has any good ideas, but I just thought I would try.

[blondeatlast]

1. Ask your doctor, perhaps?

Just a thought...

[johnnie]

3. Thanks

I havent been to the doctor in over 10 years, but I guess I could go for this.

[clydefrand]

5. Johnnie, I envy you your good health.

[johnnie]

10. To be honest

I am thankful for it. I just turned 40 last week. The last time I needed to go was because I was going to shoot a rubber band and it snapped. It ended up hitting me in the eye and tearing my cornea. I wasn't going to go, but the next day when I woke up, my eye was covered over with...whatever it was. So I HAD to go.

[clydefrand]

2. Idea! Surgery...my doctor had the same problem after

going to sleep lying in the back seat of his car. When he awoke, his hand didn't. Surgery corrected it. Sorry, but that's all I know to do for it. Have you been to the doctor about it? Or maybe an anti-inflammatory drug...like Aleve or Advil?

[johnnie]

4. It's only been a few days

From what I see, it goes away most of the time.

[johnnie]

11. Thank you

I have to stop at the store tomorrow morning, I will get an anti-inflammatory.

[Paul Hood]

6. Googled it.

What is the treatment for cubital tunnel syndrome?
Treatment usually begins with splinting the elbow, especially at night, and anti-inflammatory medications. If these treatments fail, surgery may be necessary, but this is uncommon. Surgery involves either releasing the ulnar nerve from the compression, or actually moving the nerve (an ulnar nerve transposition) to allow more room for the nerve to move behind the elbow.

http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/elbow/a/cubitaltunnel.htm

[johnnie]

Guess I will splint it...or an ace bandage tonight

Surgery doesn't sound good. Thank you.

[cornfedyank]

7. drink with the other arm

[cornfedyank]

9. sorry if it really hurts

[johnnie]

14. LOL

It's my left, so I'm ok. Actually, it is just that prickly numbing feeling.

[Taverner]

8. Physical Therapy

That stuff did wonders with my back

[johnnie]

15. Thank you

I will look into it if it doesnt get better in a few weeks.

[greatauntoftriplets]

12. So how do you know it is an ulnar nerve compression....

...if you haven't been to the doctor?

I have had pain up and down my left arm and shoulder for a couple months. Saw the doc. An MRI has shown that my left rotator cuff is up shit's creek. Not torn, but with problems. I am seeing an orthopedic guy next Tuesday.

Best-case scenario: corticosteroid shots and physical therapy.

Worst-case scenario: surgery.

See your doctor. The gods know what other things need attending to if you haven't seen one in 10 years.

[johnnie]

18. I did some searches

I found a few sites that showed exactly how I feel. It's my pinky and ring finger and along the back of my arm to my elbow.
I guess I originally posted this to see if anyone ever had it and what they did. I feel kind of stupid now.

[greatauntoftriplets]

19. I did searches too. Thought I had a pinched nerve.

Wrong.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

13. Couple things

DOn't lean on your elbow as it compresses there. Take vitamin b6 as it has been shown to help circulation which aids the inflammation of the ulnar nerve. Ice it...not heat. Also, take anti-inflammatory medication (i.e. motrin) about 400 mg around the clock for about three days, every six hours..it helps reduce inflammation if you take it on a timed basis. You can also go to the drug store and get a wrist brace and immobilize your wrist for a few days...this is the kind that wraps around your hand but leaves your thumb free. Ask at the counter.

[johnnie]

21. Wow...thank you

I think I got it because I come here on my computer and I am always resting my elbows on my knees. I am keeping it off my knees tonight.
I have a wristband from when I had tendinitis a while ago. I will see if I can find it. It might be for the right hand though. Maybe an ace bandage.
Thanks for all the help.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

26. Not a wrist band..too much pressure will irritate it more

best thins is to stay off the puter..but also flex your fingers the opposite direction after typing

[lapislzi]

16. Get a soft splint from surgical supply

I have this condition too. Drives me nuts.

Sleep with the soft splint as tight as you can stand (not cutting off circulation, but your elbow should NOT BEND). You'll feel better in a few days.

You have to keep your elbow as straight as possible as much as possible to prevent the pinching action.

Mine also responds very well to Advil, but not anything else.

And when all else fails, RTFM (in this case, ask your doctor)

[johnnie]

22. Do you get it a lot?

This just started on Sunday. Thank you for your suggestions.

[lapislzi]

25. Certain types of computer work bring it on

I do design in my spare time. The heavy design work with a lot of mouse wigglies makes it flare up. When I lay off the volunteer work, it goes away.

Good luck.

[Kokonoe]

17. Try stretching,

Hold your arm out, relax your hand and bend it down. Then again bend your hand up.

[johnnie]

23. Thank you

Will do

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

20. Is it your right hand? Dominant hand? Any distinct injury occur?

I had this happen on a day where I both did a lot of weightlifting and spent a lot of time on the computer, with the elbow resting on the chair while "mousing". Either/both could have caused it. Woke up with the problem.

Had significantly decreased grip strength along with the pinky and ring finger symptoms. Got better over a week or so, but scared the crap out of me. Previews of being old and feeble. I could barely turn car keys in the ignition.

Soft brace is a good idea, watch out for computer use. Weightlifting can cause it too, because of the way the tendons can move during certain exercises.

[johnnie]

24. I think it is the computer

I rest on my elbows a lot. Thanks for the input and thanks for reminding me of getting a little bit older. :)

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

27. Be careful also of how you sleep. Maybe try sleeping on your side

with the injured side up, maybe clutching a pillow or something so it is lightly padded and that groove in the elbow where the ulnar nerve is isn't mashed against the bed with your weight.

Ulnar nerve is no joke. I learned when I had my thankfully temporary injury that a LOT of dexterity and grip strength is involved with the ulnar nerve (like, if it was totally severed, you would have a "claw hand" that would not be very useful to you! :( )

If you don't injure it further these things WILL tend to get better but it can take days or even weeks sometimes.