Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
What is cubital tunnel syndrome?
Cubital Tunnel Syndrome Care Guide
- Cubital tunnel syndrome is a condition in which there is pressure on the ulnar nerve inside the cubital tunnel. The ulnar nerve starts at your neck and goes down to your fingers. The ulnar nerve helps you feel things and move your arm and hand. The ulnar nerve goes through a small tunnel in your elbow called the cubital tunnel. The cubital tunnel is formed by bone and ligaments. Ligaments are tough bands of tissue that attach bones to each other inside your body.
- With cubital tunnel syndrome, the part of the ulnar nerve that is inside the cubital tunnel may be pinched. It may also be stretched or inflamed. These problems may cause pain, weakness, tingling or numbness (loss of feeling) in your arm, hand, and fingers. Treatment may decrease your symptoms and allow you to return to sports and other activities.
What increases my risk of getting cubital tunnel syndrome?
Cubital tunnel syndrome is caused by pressure, stretching, or decreased blood flow to the ulnar nerve. The following increase your risk of getting cubital tunnel syndrome:
- Injury: Your ulnar nerve may be injured if you fall on your elbow. You may injure your nerve by leaning on it too often or for long periods of time. Bending your elbow too much or too long may stretch your ulnar nerve. Jobs that involve repeating certain movements for long periods of time may also increase your risk of getting cubital tunnel syndrome. Some examples include painting, playing music, or using vibrating tools. You can also injure your elbow while playing certain sports, such as baseball and tennis.
- Medical conditions: If the bones in your elbow did not grow normally, the bones may pinch your ulnar nerve. A tumor or cyst may also place pressure on your ulnar nerve. Diseases that affect your joints, such as arthritis, may put pressure on your ulnar nerve. Joints are the areas in your body where two bones meet. Diabetes can also increase your risk because the disease can damage blood vessels that supply blood to your nerves.
- Hormone problems: You may get cubital tunnel syndrome when there are unusual hormone levels in your body. Hormones are chemicals made by your body that help to control how your body works. You can have unusual hormone levels if you are female and pregnant or taking birth control pills. Thyroid problems can also affect your hormone levels. Your thyroid is a gland in your neck that makes hormones.
- Obesity: Being obese (weighing more than your caregiver suggests) puts pressure on your ulnar nerve. This increases your risk of cubital tunnel syndrome.
- Surgery: During some surgeries, a blood pressure cuff or tourniquet may squeeze your arm for a long time. A tourniquet is a band placed on your arm that squeezes your blood vessels to decrease blood flow. This pressure on your arm may squeeze your ulnar nerve and increase your risk of getting cubital tunnel syndrome. Lying on your back during surgery may also put pressure on your ulnar nerve.
What are the signs and symptoms of cubital tunnel syndrome?
You may have any of the following signs and symptoms:
- Numbness (loss of feeling) in your arm or hand. This usually affects the ring finger and small finger of your hand.
- Pain in your elbow that goes into your forearm and hand.
- Tingling feeling (pins and needles) down your arm or hand. This usually affects the ring finger and small finger of your hand.
- Weakness in your hand and fingers.
How is cubital tunnel syndrome diagnosed?
Your caregiver will ask you about your signs and symptoms. Your caregiver may check the movement of your shoulder, elbow, wrist, and fingers. Your caregiver may tap around your elbow or ask you to keep your elbow bent for a period of time. He may also press against your ulnar nerve while your elbow is bent. Your caregiver will ask if you feel pain, tingling, or other symptoms while he is doing these tests. Your caregiver may do other tests to diagnose cubital tunnel syndrome. You may need the following tests:
- Electrodiagnostic studies: Electrodiagnostic studies may include nerve conduction studies and electromyography. These studies test how well your nerves are working. Your caregiver uses these tests to learn more about your condition and to decide how to treat your symptoms. Ask your caregiver for more information about these tests.
- Joint x-ray: This is a picture of the bones and tissues in your joints. Joints are the places in your body where two bones meet. You may be given dye as a shot into your joint before the x-ray. This dye will help your joint show up better on the x-ray. A joint x-ray with dye is called an arthrogram.
- Magnetic resonance imaging: This test is also called an MRI. During the MRI, pictures are taken of your elbow. An MRI may show swelling or damage to your ulnar nerve. An MRI may also show if there is anything pressing on your nerve in the cubital tunnel. You need to lie still during an MRI. Never enter the MRI room with any metal objects. This can cause serious injury. Tell your caregiver if you have any metal implants in your body.
- Ultrasound: An ultrasound uses sound waves to show pictures of your elbow and forearm tissues on a TV-like screen. An ultrasound may show if you have something pushing on the nerve in your cubital tunnel.
How is cubital tunnel syndrome treated?
Cubital tunnel syndrome may go away by itself. In other cases, you may need treatment to decrease your pain and improve the use of your hand. The treatment that your caregiver suggests may change over time. Ask your caregiver for more information about these and other treatments you may need:
- NSAIDs: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medicine may decrease swelling and pain or fever. This medicine can be bought with or without a doctor's order. This medicine can cause stomach bleeding or kidney problems in certain people. Always read the medicine label and follow the directions on it before using this medicine.
- Rest: You may need to rest your injured arm and avoid activities that cause your symptoms. Resting your arm may allow your nerve to heal and feel better.
- Ice: Putting ice on your elbow may decrease pain and swelling. Talk with your caregiver about using ice before you do so.
- Elbow supports: Your caregiver may suggest that you use a brace or splint on your elbow to decrease your arm movement. Decreasing your arm movement may help to keep pressure off your ulnar nerve. Your caregiver may tell you to use elbow supports only when you are sleeping. Your caregiver may also tell you to use elbow pads to protect your elbow.
- Physical therapy: You may need physical therapy after your symptoms improve. Physical therapy exercises may strengthen your muscles and help decrease your pain and tingling.
- Surgery: You may need surgery if your symptoms do not improve with other treatments. Surgery may take pressure off your ulnar nerve. Your caregiver may move your nerve to a different area to stop it from being stretched or pinched. Your caregiver may remove part of your bone if it is pressing on your nerve. Ask your caregiver for more information about surgery to treat your cubital tunnel syndrome.
What are the risks of having or treating cubital tunnel syndrome?
- Using ice on your elbow for too long may cause damage. Surgery may cause an infection, pain, swelling, or bruising. Surgery may also cause nerve damage, which can cause numbness in your arm and hand. Surgery may damage the muscles, ligaments, or blood vessels in your arm. Even after treatment, you may still have symptoms. You may need surgery again.
- Without treatment, your symptoms, such as pain and tingling, may not go away or get worse. Your hand and fingers may become very weak. You may have problems using your arm or hand. You may not be able to grab, squeeze, or lift items. It may be hard for you to do your daily activities. Talk with your caregiver if you have questions or concerns about your condition, treatment, or care.
How can I prevent my symptoms from getting worse?
- Avoid putting pressure on your elbow: Certain positions put pressure on the ulnar nerve in your elbow. Leaning on your elbow, or bending your elbow too long or too often, can make your symptoms worse. Wearing a splint or elbow pad may help you avoid putting pressure on your elbow. Ask your caregiver what else you can do to avoid putting pressure on your elbow.
- Follow a healthy lifestyle: Drinking too much alcohol and smoking may make the symptoms of cubital tunnel syndrome worse. Limiting the amount of alcohol you drink and quitting smoking may help to prevent your symptoms from getting worse.
- Maintain a healthy weight: If you are obese, your symptoms may be worse. Your caregiver may suggest that you lose weight. Your cubital tunnel syndrome may improve when you reach a healthy weight. Ask your caregiver about healthy ways to lose weight.
Where can I find more information?
Contact the following:
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
6300 North River Road
Rosemont , IL 60018-4262
Phone: 1- 847 - 823-7186
Web Address: http://www.aaos.org/
- American Society for Surgery of the Hand
6300 North River Road, Suite 600
Rosemont , IL 60018
6300 North River Road, Suite 600
Rosemont , IL 60018
Phone: 1- 847 - 384-8300
Web Address: www.assh.org
When should I call my caregiver?
Call your caregiver if:
- The numbness, pain, tingling, or weakness in your arm, hand, or fingers gets worse.
- You have questions or concerns about your condition or treatment.
Care Agreement
You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.
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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.
