Hey Brenda,

Happy New Year to you!! We all need it for sure.

The last time I saw a doc was way back in Sept. It was an orthopedic specialist, and all he could tell me was that it sounded like cubital tunnel. I felt like I had completely wasted my money.

The good news is I'll finally have good health insurance starting Jan. 1. I suppose the next step for me is a nerve test and seeing a neurologist. But it is hard not to feel discouraged. My nurse friend told me there is just really not much that modern medicine can do for troubled nerves.

But staying positive and not being afraid of this condition is important. I was able to be completely at peace with it just a few weeks ago until the snuggle incident. I tell myself that an amputee would give anything to have functioning arms and hands even if there is intense pain so I should be grateful for what I do have.

txdave36 wrote:
Hey Brenda,

Happy New Year to you!! We all need it for sure.

The last time I saw a doc was way back in Sept. It was an orthopedic specialist, and all he could tell me was that it sounded like cubital tunnel. I felt like I had completely wasted my money.


Dave, Happy New Years to you as well!!! Question; What kind of Orthopedic Specialist did you go to? Mine was a "Sports Orthopedic Specialist", and most of his patients were football and baseball pros locally. He never called mine "Cubital Tunnel" as it was a fairly new term when mine was done. He did directly say the Ulnar was getting entrapped in my elbow, and too more likely than not my hand (Guyon's). It turned out when he got in there, the nerve was in more danger in my hand. Daily helicopter flying was crushing it in my hand! Yep, you got it, no more flying - 30 years done.


The good news is I'll finally have good health insurance starting Jan. 1. I suppose the next step for me is a nerve test and seeing a neurologist. But it is hard not to feel discouraged. My nurse friend told me there is just really not much that modern medicine can do for troubled nerves.

So glad to hear that you are going to have good insurance in just 2 days! That is a great start to the new year. I have to disagree with your nurse friend. There is a lot they can do, but much of it is dependent on what "we" and our "bodies" do with the nerves before "modern medicine" touches/releases it/them. I'm on another site, and many highly qualified RN's are just as in the dark and filled with much of the same questions you and I have.

Remember it comes down to several things to heal (if it is possible): your attitude (your good there), finding the right surgeon, following ALL directions and PT as prescribed, positive attitude (oops, already covered that). After feeling success, NOT returning to the same actions or habits that caused the original problem! A lot of people go back to what hurt them, and zing it comes back.

The level of entrapment as to whether permanent damage has occurred (nerves suck when hurt). If the onset was slow, better chance that the damage isn't permanent, trauma to the nerve (sudden herniation, car accident, fall etc.) many times will and do cause permanent damage. I have experienced both variables with my neck/back/arm.

But staying positive and not being afraid of this condition is important. I was able to be completely at peace with it just a few weeks ago until the snuggle incident. I tell myself that an amputee would give anything to have functioning arms and hands even if there is intense pain so I should be grateful for what I do have.

This paragraph again shows you have the right attitude. I would seek another Ortho or like you mentioned, get with a Neurologist and get the nerve conduction studies done to see what is going on for sure. Piece of advice? When the needle portion of the test begins have the NEUROLOGIST do it! Many of the techs don't seem to hit the muscle right, or don't have you flex or extend correctly resulting in inaccurate or false reports. Once the test is done, ask the Neuro to recommend an Ortho that *he* knows is very informed and skilled with Cubital Tunnel and the related Ulnar nerve issues. Chat again soon Dave.

Brenda

Hey Brenda,

I appreciate the responses. It is very helpful hearing from someone that has been down this road.

I believe the doc I saw was a sports medicine guy. I felt ripped off because he didn't take my problem seriously and only talked to me 5 minutes. Offered zero advice and charged me almost $200 dollars!

I told a friend last night that the timing of this problem really stinks because I am looking at 4 possible causes when it all started:

1. My increased gym time and weight lifting especially tricep building.

2. Working on the computer all day

3. The neck adjustment at the chiro

4. Hitting the back of my head against a thick headboard.


I'm starting to wonder if the head injury is the culprit because symptoms are showing up more dominantly in my right arm now as well.

But the weird thing is I don't have neck pain anymore, and the pain level in my arm has grown very intense lately.

But the signs also point to cubital tunnel as I get the worse pain right in the elbow, and sparkling tingly pain up the forearm. I was alarmed on Tuesday when my entire hand went numb driving on the steering wheel. I read this can occur with cubital tunnel. I can no longer comfortably talk on the phone which really sucks.

How common do you think this problem is? I keep reading it is the 2nd most common nerve problem yet I never heard of it until this year. I always thought carpal tunnel would be the problem I end up with!

I had my mom do some of the hand tests and I was able to show some resistance. My pinching ability appears to be normal as well so I'm holding onto that as a sign that no permanent damage is happening.

Hi Dave and Happy and Healthy New Year to you!

I don't know what caused my CuTS but it hit my left side a lot more severe than my right, and I'm right handed. The neurologist told me to wear braces "and you will figure out when you bend your elbows the most." It took half an hour with braces to figure out that holding the phone with my left hand while working was my #1 culprit. Since then (and even after my Oct. 09 surgery) I use a headset for land lines and a bluetooth for cell phone. If the headset isn't nearby, I use the speaker. I no longer bring my hands up to my ears.

So consider the phone holding a no-no.

What I've also found is that when I'm working at the computer and using the mouse (or even typing), I tend to dig my left elbow into the arm of the chair. I've installed some heavy duty foam on the arms and that's when I realized that I was doing that.

Strangely enough, the doctor said that typing is one of the best exercises I can do for pinkie and ring finger, so I've been a typing fool.

My hand has lost a lot of muscle mass which will probably not be restored. My grip is extremely weak but the doctor expects it to strengthen. I don't remember the technical terms of my surgery but my ulnar nerve was moved between muscles and the bone was "shaved." I still have the numbness of the pinkie and left ring finger. That will take time to be recovered.

Good Luck!

Yiayia
Dallas, TX