Hey everyone,


Well I've finally decided that dealing with CuTS is like a crazy roller coaster ride. Lots of ups and downs. I'm so excited that finally 3 months after my left submuscular trans my ulnar symptoms are improving. The clawing in my ring finger has totally resolved and I can actively straighten my little finger. It doesn't stay straight for long, but at least I can do it now. I couldn't do it before surgery. I've had some issues with swelling post-op and wear a compression sleeve pretty much all the time and slowly it is improving. I also have "tennis elbow" on the left side. It seems like if my ulnar pain/swelling improves then the tendonitis worsens. If the tendonitis feels better, then the ulnar stuff flares up. It's really annoying and frustrating, but overall I'm happy with my progress.

OK so now the reason for my post. I have been having symptoms on my right side for about 9 months. Up until recently only intermittent numbness/tingling in the small and ring fingers. Now my small finger is starting to claw if I'm not conscious of it. I've not had an EMG/NCV studies done on the right. The ones on the left side were normal despite my clawing. Apparently I'm not "normal". I did have ultrasound of my right side which showed ulnar entrapment. I figure another surgery is in my future but I'm reluctant to do anything until my left arm is improved. I have a follow-up with my doc in 10 weeks. As long as I can still correct that clawing, I think I'll try to stick it out and give my left more time to heal. Does anyone out there have any thoughts about this? I'd appreciate any input.

Thanks,

Chris

it seems a lot of us end up with tennis elbow as well.....my surgeon sees a lot of it with carpal tunnel.
had my elbows done 7 weeks apart....

Hello gueoasis and lib,

I'm bilateral cubicle tunnel syndrome as well. I had my right arm done in November, my Dr. is leaving it up to me to choose a date for to fix my left arm. However, like you guys I have unresolved issues in my first arm. I was diagnosed with tennis elbow from a previous Dr. and received cortisone shots. The Dr. I see now said that I do not have tennis elbow. He thinks I just have a muscle imbalance due to the ulnar nerve issue prior to surgery?? I tried to isolate the movements that give me the most trouble, here it goes:

If I bring my right arm up to my mouth like I'm yawning it's painful in the outside elbow joint then from that position if I actively flex my wrist back it is excruciating painful. If I take my other hand and stretch my wrist back in the flex position I don't feel that same pain, I feel a gentle stretch in the wrist. Is this what you guys feel too??

I also have post surgery shoulder pain, but I'll leave that for another post. I'm trying to strengthen my muscles more?? Although I'm complaining a lot about my pains, I'm very happy with the outcome of the ulnar surgery. The pain I had in my elbow down to my wrist is gone!

So gueoasis to answer your question on our thoughts of your current situation, I would say it makes sense to wait until your other arm is better.

Lib, you had your surgeries pretty much back to back without your tennis elbow resolution first. How did you deal with your recovery during your second operation? If you had to do it over again would you have waited longer?

Take care you guys,
Cindy