Ulnar Nerve Compression And Instability
What is it?
The ulnar nerve travels on the inner side of the back of your elbow – you may have met it before when you have ‘hit your funny bone’ – or as you now know your ulnar nerve! It supplies the skin to the little and ring fingers, some of the muscles in your forearm and most of the small muscles in your hand. If you have a problem with this nerve you may have numbness or pins and needles in your little and ring finger or weakness in your hand.
What is it?
The ulnar nerve travels on the inner side of the back of your elbow – you may have met it before when you have ‘hit your funny bone’ – or as you now know your ulnar nerve! It supplies the skin to the little and ring fingers, some of the muscles in your forearm and most of the small muscles in your hand. If you have a problem with this nerve you may have numbness or pins and needles in your little and ring finger or weakness in your hand.
What causes it?
Ulnar nerve compression often occurs as it passes behind the elbow as it passes through the narrow groove (cubital tunnel). Occasionally there can be other structures which can cause pressure on the nerve such as osteophytes or ganglions.
The ulnar nerve can have problems with instability, with it snapping back and forward over the medial epicondyle – although this is not always symptomatic.
What happens if you do nothing?
If you have significant constant nerve compression and it is not released there can be irreparable damage to your nerve. When the problem is intermittent e.g. with ulnar nerve instability the problem may settle down with time.
What happens if you do nothing?
If you have significant constant nerve compression and it is not released there can be irreparable damage to your nerve. When the problem is intermittent e.g. with ulnar nerve instability the problem may settle down with time.
What treatments are there?
If the symptoms are mild or intermittent simple measures such as sleeping with your arm straight (a towel wrapped round the elbow can help with this) and ‘flossing the nerve’ can help. If the compression is more severe surgical decompression to relieve your symptoms and prevent things deteriorated is beneficial. When the nerve is unstable and not settling with non-operative treatment an operation to move it to the front of the elbow can help.