Standing in line at a local bookstore, I listened to an older man ahead grumble as he fumbled, trying to get his keys out of his pocket. Then he had trouble getting his wallet. Then signing the receipt.
Not a doctor, I, but fully familiar with the frustrations, I finally had to ask: “Cubital tunnel?”
Instant recognition.
“Yeah!” he said. “You’ve heard of it? Nobody else has!”
Oh, yeah. Heard of it, researched it, asked my doctor about it. Two years on, still suffer from it.
No, I don’t have carpal tunnel
While less known than it’s more prevalent cousin, carpal tunnel syndrome, the cubit variety “” also known as ulner nerve entrapment “” is affecting more and more of us. It occurs when the ulnar verve, which passes through a tunnel of muscle, ligament and bone on the inside of the elbow, becomes compressed due to injury, pressure or chronic irritation. It manifests for most people like the sensation when you’ve hit your “funny bone.” Your hand, particularly the ring finger and the little finger next to it, are numb. You lose dexterity. You lose strength.
And you end up cussing a lot when you try to do the simplest things like reach into your pocket or write your name. Believe me.
What do to if you think you have cubital tunnel
So, here are a few things to know about this annoying malady.
1. See your doctor
Make an appointment with your doctor if you have the above symptoms for more than a few hours.
2. Prepare for a quick diagnosis
Your doctor will use one of two methods to determine if you have cubital tunnel syndrome. A nerve conduction test, in which an electric shock is pulsed through the nerve via an electrode on your skin, measures how fast the nerve transmits impulses with a slower rate pointing to a problem. An electromyogram (EMG) does much the same, though the current is introduced through a needle electrode.
3. Understand treatment can be simple
The most effective treatment can be as simple as a splint, especially if you seek treatment right away. The sooner you see your doctor, the faster you will reduce the activity that brought the cubital tunnel on.
Your doctor may direct you to get a splint that keeps your arm straight when you sleep, since bending your arm during the night can exacerbate the problem. If the entrapment is more severe, he may ask that you wear a splint during the day, as well. Chances are, he will also prescribe anti-inflammatory medications.
4. Be prepared that surgery may be required
If you’ve gotten it once, you’re more likely to get it again as you repeat the habits that led to numbness in the first place. Surgery is the final option. During the surgery, which takes from 60 to 90 minutes under general anesthesia, the structures pinching the nerve will be removed or the nerve itself is relocated to another location.
5. Don’t let it go
While waiting for the problem to correct itself may work for a few, most will need a doctor’s treatment. Ninety-five percent of those who seek treatment will find relief, but there are a few “” whether due to nerve damage from letting the condition go for an extended period of time or because of other nerve damage “” who may have to live with it for the rest of their lives.
In that case, your doctor can suggest physical therapies to help you overcome cursing tirades in checkout lanes.
