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I am not a doctor, so if you experience the symptoms described in this article, please see a real doctor! It's best to consult with a hand surgeon, especially someone who has performed multiple successful cubital tunnel surgeries. Your doctor will ask you about symptoms, which arms and fingers are affected, and whether your hand is weak. The doctor should also ask about your work and home activities, sleep positions, and any prior elbow injuries. Your doctor will then conduct a physical exam. He/she will tap your ulnar nerve to check for tingling and shocks in your ring and little fingers, see how sensitive your fingers are to light touch and pin pricks, and measure your hand strength and dexterity. The cubital tunnel is one of several spots where the ulnar nerve can be pinched, so your doctor may need to probe and prod you a bit. This may hurt, but it's important to pinpoint the source of your trouble. If your doctor believes you may have cubital tunnel syndrome (CuTS), he/she may order special tests to get more information about the health of your ulnar nerve. One common test is the nerve conduction velocity (NCV) test. An NCV measures the speed of impulses traveling along the nerve. Slow speed means the nerve is constricted or damaged. An NCV test is sometimes combined with an electromyogram (EMG). An EMG tests the forearm muscles controlled by the ulnar nerve to ensure the muscles are working properly. If not, it's often because the ulnar nerve is not working well. You may experience discomfort or pain during these tests, but 10 minutes is a small price to pay to see if you have nerve damage and require surgery. |