Pinky Numb and Tingling? Learn about Cubital Tunnel Syndrome!
What do holding a phone to your ear, leaning on your armrest of your office chair, and sleeping all have in common? They can all cause pressure and compression of the ulnar nerve at the cubital tunnel, the second most common nerve compression injury in the extremities. Could you have cubital tunnel? Read on to find out more!
Information provided is not a substitute for professional medical advice and should be used for entertainment and educational purposes only.
Leaning on your elbow, prolonged periods of having your elbow flexed, or injuries to your elbow can all cause compression and irritation of the ulnar nerve in the cubital tunnel. Cubital Tunnel Syndrome is the second most common peripheral nerve syndrome behind Carpal Tunnel Syndrome!
Cubital Tunnel Syndrome is a condition that arises from compression of the ulnar nerve as it passes through the cubital tunnel, a small space located on the inside of the elbow. Some people may refer to this as the “funny bone” when you hit your elbow and feel a “zapping” sensation shoot through your arm. Although the cause of this not so funny reaction is actually a nerve (the ulnar nerve), the cubital tunnel itself is a tight and narrow bony structure and is surrounded by muscle, tendon, and ligament - all of which can cause issues with compressing the nerve and therefore causing decreased blood flow - or ischemia. Check out the images below and list of symptoms to learn more.
Signs and Symptoms
What are some signs you should be on the lookout for? Some symptoms you may not realize are even related to nerve compression at your elbow!
Information provided is not a substitute for professional medical advice and should be used for entertainment and educational purposes only.
Numbness and Tingling: Feelings of numbness and tingling in the ring and small fingers, especially when the elbow is bent. Some people notice this most when they wake up at night. Check out Image 2 for area to check.
Pain: Discomfort on the inner side of the elbow, which may radiate down the forearm. Some people describe a zapping sensation, similar to the feeling of an electrical pulse traveling from your elbow down your arm.
Image 1 shows more in depth of the anatomy of this area.
Clumsiness and weakness: Nerve compression affects the signals the nerve sends to the small muscles in the hand and therefore causes increased difficulty with hand coordination.
Muscle Atrophy: In severe cases, noticeable wasting of the hand muscles may occur. Check out image Image 3 for a better understanding of which areas could be affected.
Actions to try today!
Do these sound familiar? Don’t feel discouraged, here are three action steps below you can try today to help! Many ulnar nerve issues can be managed with early conservative care.
Try to sleep with your elbow straight - this is a huge contributor to compression at the elbow! You can use a special splint or pillows to help.
Try to avoid leaning on your elbows for prolonged periods of time - armrests at your office or in the car can cause prolonged pressure on the nerve.
Stretch regularly - gentle stretching of your arms regularly while you work can help with increasing blood flow in this area.
These are some general guidelines and ideas to help guide your decision making process and hopefully help ease your mind. When in doubt, it is always a safe bet to see your physician or an occupational therapist, to be further evaluated.
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Anatomy image credit - "Slagter - Drawing Ulnar nerve compression around the elbow - no labels" by Ron Slagter, license: CC BY-NC-SA
