Cubital Tunnel Syndrome Treatment
The elbow joint contains passages for nerves traveling from the spinal cord to the lower arm, hand and fingers. One of the large nerves that travels through the elbow is the ulnar nerve. It passes through the cubital tunnel on the inside of the elbow to the outer fingers of the hand. If there is pressure on the ulnar nerve when passing through the elbow, it can cause cubital tunnel syndrome, or ulnar nerve entrapment. Our physicians at DOCS Health offer cubital tunnel syndrome treatment at our medical center in Los Angeles.
The cubital tunnel is a space created by soft tissue to protect the ulnar nerve as it passes through the mobile elbow joint. It is located right behind the bony point of the elbow called the medial epicondyle, or “funny bone.” The tingling or jolt of pain you feel when you hit your funny bone is the ulnar nerve reacting to the stimulus. The ulnar nerve provides sensation, movement and strength to the muscles in the forearm, as well as pinky and ring fingers.
Causes and Symptoms of Ulnar Nerve Entrapment
Pressure or ulnar nerve entrapment can occur when the cubital tunnel is compressed. This occurs for a wide variety of reasons. Injuries, inflammation, dislocations and other issues can restrict the soft tissues of the cubital tunnel and put pressure on the ulnar nerve. Leaning on your elbow or sleeping with your elbow bent can be enough to irritate the ulnar nerve. When ulnar nerve entrapment occurs, the symptoms are called cubital tunnel syndrome, which include:
- Numbness in the pinky and ring finger
- Tingling in pinky and ring finger – like the fingers are “asleep”
- Weakening in the outer fingers or lost dexterity
- Weakened grip or muscle wasting in the outer hand
Ulnar nerve entrapment can cause permanent damage to the nerve and hand. If you have symptoms of cubital tunnel syndrome, you should seek treatment to reduce your risk of permanent damage. Our orthopedic specialists at DOCS Health offer non-surgical and surgical cubital tunnel syndrome treatment at our medical clinic in Los Angeles. Contact DOCS Health today to schedule a consultation.
Doctors who treat this condition
Unless otherwise indicated, the physician is a member of DOCS Health Medical Group and has medical staff privileges at DOCS Surgery Center, DOCS Surgical Hospital, or both. Physicians denoted with an asterisk (*) are independent physicians who are not part of DOCS Health Medical Group, but do have medical staff privileges at DOCS Surgery Center, DOCS Surgical Hospital, or both.