| |
|
|
Beverly Hills
9301 Wilshire Boulevard
Beverly Hills, California 90210
West Hills
7301 Medical Center Drive
West Hills, California 91307
|
|
 |
|
|
INSURANCE & WORKERS' COMPENSATION
ACCEPTED!
We accept most types of insurance
providers and specialize in the treatment of workers'
compensation injuries to the hand and upper extremity. |
|
|
|
Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
Causes of Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
Symptoms including Pain, Numbness, or Tingling
Diagnosis & Medical Conditions
Non-Surgical & Surgical Treatments
Inside the elbow, in the area commonly called the "funny bone,"
the ulnar nerve runs under a bump of bone, the medial epicondyle.
If this nerve, which is directly next to the bone and can be pressed
against it, receives enough pressure, the way the nerve works can
be disturbed. When this happens, numbness, tingling, and pain can
be felt in the elbow, forearm, hand, and even all the way down to
the fingers. This condition is known as cubital tunnel syndrome.
| Causes of Cubital Tunnel Syndrome |
 |
The pressure that disturbs the ulnar nerve can come from a variety
of sources. The placement of the nerve, right next to the bone and
lacking much padding, means that any pressure that is put on the bone
is also felt by the nerve. You can sometimes glimpse this condition
if you lean the inner part of your elbow against a table and feel
your arm fall asleep. If the pressure is kept up, you may feel pain.
If this happens repeatedly, the numbness and pain may last longer
each time and can eventually become permanent.
In some people, the ulnar nerve may click as it goes back and forth
over the bony bump when the elbow is bent and straightened back out.
If this keeps happening, the nerve may become irritated. The ulnar
nerve can also receive pressure if the elbow is bent for a long time
and is stretched across the medial epicondyle; this can happen when
sleeping. Sometimes the pressure comes from a thickening of the nerve's
connective tissue or from differences in how the muscle over the nerve
at the elbow is shaped. When the pressure on the nerve is large enough
and keeps up for a long time, cubital tunnel syndrome can result.
Back to the Top
| Symptoms of Cubital Tunnel Syndrome |
|
If someone has cubital tunnel syndrome, they usually feel pain, numbness,
or tingling in the ring and little fingers. The feelings are greater
when the elbow is resting on an arm rest or when the elbow is repeatedly
bent and straightened. The symptoms of cubital tunnel syndrome are
often felt when the elbow is kept in the same position for a long
time, such as when sleeping or holding a telephone.
Some people with cubital tunnel syndrome notice that their pinch is
weaker or may occasionally be clumsy and drop things often. If the
syndrome is bad enough, the hand muscles can lose size and strength
and the numbness may become more extensive.
Back to the Top
| Diagnosis & Medical Conditions |
|
Cubital tunnel syndrome is determined by your hand doctor, who will
check how your symptoms are distributed and what their pattern is.
This involves checking the strength of your muscles and whether there
is any loss of feeling. Your hand surgeon will also see how sensitive
the ulnar nerve is to tapping or bending. You may also be checked
for other medical conditions such as diabetes or any thyroid disease.
To confirm the diagnosis, you may be asked to have an electromyography
(i.e., an EMG test) or a nerve conduction study (i.e., an NCS). These
studies indicate the severity of your condition.
Back to the Top
| Non-Surgical & Surgical Treatments |
|
If the EMG/NCS tests show that the nerve isn't under a great deal
of pressure, the symptoms of cubital tunnel syndrome can sometimes
be reduced without surgery. The pressure on the nerve can be reduced
by changing how the elbow is used. For example, you may be asked to
refrain from resting your elbow on hard surfaces so as to ease your
symptoms.
If the symptoms can't be reduced or eliminated and are too severe,
a hand surgeon may suggest that surgery is the only method to eliminate
the pressure. Sometimes the surgery involves shifting the ulnar nerve
to the front of the elbow, and this treatment can reduce the pressure
on the nerve as well as the tension it may be under. Other treatments
involve placing a layer of fat under or inside the muscle and over
the nerve or trimming the bony bump.
The process of recovery from surgery will depend on your particular
course of treatment. Hand and wrist strength may take several months
to return, and the numbness or tingling in the ring and little fingers
may disappear quickly or slowly. If the cubital tunnel syndrome was
extremely severe, the symptoms may continue, even after surgery.
Back to the Top |
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
| |
We serve the following cities within Los Angeles,
which are in close proximity to our offices:
Agoura Hills, Brentwood, Canoga Park, Century City, Chatsworth,
Culver City, Glendale, Granada Hills, Hollywood, Los Angeles,
Marina Del Rey, North Hollywood, Northridge, Rancho Park, Reseda,
Santa Monica, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Tarzana, Valencia, Van
Nuys, West Hills, West Hollywood, West L.A., Winnetka, Woodland
Hills
|
|
