I've had numbness in my pinky & ring fingers for the past 6 weeks. I can definitely tell I have less dexterity with those fingers and that there is some minor loss of strength. I've been to the neurologist last week and she gave me a splint to wear at night. I was wearing it only at night but I realized how much I lean or bend my elbow and now I am wearing it during the day as well. Is that advisable? The numbness does not fluctuate in any way. It is constant. There is no pain just an annoying tingling feeling. If the conservative treatment doesn't cure or relieve it, will it become painful? When do you first notice the clawing? My fingers seem to be curling in more than usual and I have just a slight problem extending them. They feel stiff. I don't have any pain in the elbow, neck or shoulder. Next week I am going in for a nerve test of some sort. I didn't think this was such a big deal but it isn't getting any better even with the splint.

Now I know why my parents insisted "Elbows off the table!"

thanks,

Mike

Hi Mike, welcome to the site. Wearing a splint at night helps keep your arm relatively straight, which is important because sleeping on bent elbows is a main cause of cubital tunnel syndrome (CuTS). You probably don't need to wear the splint during the day (unless recommended by your doctor) because you are awake and can prevent yourself from leaning on your elbows or bending them for too long.

Conservative treatment takes time for the ulnar nerve to heal, so you may not see results immediately. You need to stick with it for at least a couple months. The important thing is to figure out what's causing your CuTS (sounds like you've got an idea) and then stop or significantly reduce those activities.

Clawing is a sign of nerve damage. If the clawing becomes severe, your doctor will likely recommend surgery. Hopefully the measures you are taking now will help you avoid surgery.

Most CuTS patients eventually develop pain, but some go from tingling to straight to numbness. Every person and case is different, which is why it's important to work with your doctor.

You are probably getting a NCV (nerve conduction velocity) test, which measures how well the ulnar nerve can carry signals and determine whether your nerve is compressed or blocked somehow. This will help your doctor determine the best course of treatment and whether surgery may be needed.

Good luck! Please stop back and let us know how you are progressing.