ORTHOPEDICS/SHOULDER & ELBOW/ELBOW DISORDERS
Ulnar Nerve Compression
Signs such pain, coldness, and weakness commonly result of nerve compression diseases.
A variety of causes may squeeze the nerves.
Most of the people are familiar with carpal tunnel disease, which is a disorder that occurs when the median nerve is squeezed in the wrist.
Carpal tunnel disease is the most frequent nerve compression pattern of the upper extremity.
The second most frequent problem being the cubital tunnel disease.
Cubital tunnel disease/Causes
In such case, the ulnar nerve (one of the other nerves of the upper extremity), is strained as it crosses behind the elbow.
This is the same nerve that causes the burning feeling of hitting the “funny bone.”
Hurting the funny bone is really a heating feeling caused by irritating the ulnar nerve behind the elbow.
When hit, this causes a shooting impression and burning in the small and ring fingers. The ulnar nerve communicates signals to the brain about feelings in these fingers; that’s why the fingers burn when a hurt occurs to the nerve in the elbow.
Generally the ulnar nerve is stretched by nearly 2 cm as curving the elbow back and forth.
In a specific position, an important stress occurs on the ulnar nerve; therefore, diverse assemblies are implicated causing irritation to the ulnar nerve in the back of the elbow.
One of these assemblies may cause irritation to the ulnar nerve leading to indications known as cubital tunnel disease.
Cubital tunnel disease/Signs
In patients with cubital tunnel disease, the ulnar nerve is squeezed in one of several positions in the back of the elbow.
Cubital tunnel disease signs frequently enhance pain, burning, and coldness in the small and ring fingers. (These are generally called pins and needles signs), in addition to muscles weakness in the hand.
Note that Signs may appear when the elbow is bent for a long period.
These weakened muscles is termed hand intrinsic muscles.
Patients with more serious indicators of cubital tunnel disease may experience a leaning to dropping objects or may have trouble with fingers fine movements.
Cubital tunnel disease/Diagnosis
The diagnosis of cubital tunnel disease is made after a patient detailed history and examination.
X-rays or other tests may be ordered if there is any eventual concern or irregular nerve pressing.
Nerve tests, called EMGs, can help to define the extent and location of this nerve compression.
Other disorders that can cause analogous signs include cervical spine difficulties, such as an herniated disc.
Another more complaint that can lead to burning and coldness in the fingers is called thoracic outlet disease.
Finally, the ulnar nerve can be squeezed in a location other than the cubital tunnel, although the cubital tunnel is the most frequent location for the ulnar nerve to be pinched.
Cubital tunnel disease/Therapy
Therapy of the cubital tunnel disease generally starts with some known simple steps that may resolve the problem in many cases, such as:
Anti-inflammatory medicines
Immobilizing the elbow
Filling the elbow
Avoid elbow bending.
If above measures fail, a surgery may be needed to remove the squeeze on the ulnar nerve.
Knowing that the nerve can be squeezed at one of the numerous locations behind the elbow, it is important to know precisely where the nerve is squeezed.
In some patients, therapy consists of moving the nerve to the front of the elbow, so the nerve is under less pressure when the elbow is curved; (this is called an ulnar nerve transposition).
To conclude:
Depending on the nerve injury rigorousness, signs may resolve very quickly, or they may never completely resolve.
In the most austere cases of cubital tunnel disease, some of the indicators may keep on in spite of a surgical therapy.