I've been getting pain in my hand, starting from my right ring finger and shooting down my arm to my elbow. I could almost draw a straight line from where it starts and ends. I was fairly convinced that it was CTS but most of the sites ive been to list the earliest symptoms as being numbness and tingling in the fingertips. Ive got no numbness, or tingling, just burning pain.
That hand also is almost always ice cold, but since I've got that in my feet as well i dont know if it's related to the pain or not.

Id truly appreciate some input on this, ive just started college and since Ive had so much essaying and typing to do its gotten alot worse, and im starting to fear for my hand.

If it is CTS, could you offer some alternatives to surgery or at least ways to prevent it from growing worse so i can avoid surgery for a while?

Sounds more like cubital tunnel syndrome or radial nerve problem.
I thought I had tennis elbow, but it really is radial nerve problem from using mouse a lot.

Just thought I'd update..went to the doctors and got the vague diagnosis of "ulnar nerve irritation for some reason", and im going in for an EMG soon to get zapped (dads had a field day, electrocuted daughters equal instant hilarity.)
Doc. Kelly implied he thought the nerve passage was too small, since im tiny, and could require a "simple procedure".

But ive seen quite a few posts about ulnar nerve surgeries that dont seem effective, so id still like to know what my alternatives are. If anyone has any advice i'd appreciate some input.

Without going too much into my history, I suggest asking for the needle version of the nerve test, as well as the shock. My CTS and Cubital Tunnel syndromes were not as quantifiable with the shock test alone.

Also, realize that these tests produce a high rate of false negatives. Doctors should really use it to confirm an already suspected diagnosis.

In my case, I just had surgery for Cubital Tunnel and Carpal Tunnel. The tests had indicated mild to moderate CTS, but the doctor found it to be much, much worse.

In any event, don't wait as long as I did. I have muscle wasting and extreme nerve pain in my entire arm. I am looking at a long road of PT -- and I am too young for any of this! If only I had taken care of things years ago...

Good luck!

Just thought I'd update..went to the doctors and got the vague diagnosis of "ulnar nerve irritation for some reason", and im going in for an EMG soon to get zapped (dads had a field day, electrocuted daughters equal instant hilarity.)
Doc. Kelly implied he thought the nerve passage was too small, since im tiny, and could require a "simple procedure".

But ive seen quite a few posts about ulnar nerve surgeries that dont seem effective, so id still like to know what my alternatives are. If anyone has any advice i'd appreciate some input.


I know the feeling - my dad is like that too! :jester:

IF the nerve is irritated at the elbow, I think the surgery works well. Don't put it off too long - my pain returned after 1 1/2 yrs...but it's not impinged now. (and I have radial nerve/carpal nerve/sciatic nerve pains also - so it's NOT related to surgery)

If you bend your hand down - and it starts tingling/going numb - then it's impinged.

The surgery was outpatient, recovery pretty easy and the pain decreased almost immediately....

Also - when you're going to sleep - check the way you have your arms....that can make a difference. If you curl your arms then you might have to train yourself to sleep with them flat.

Ah, nothing starts the week quite like being stabbed in the hand with a needle... Went in for the EMG today, got zapped, got stabbed, and good news! No carpal tunnel, no pinched nerves, no nerve damage at all. So my pain is tendon/muscle related :) which means no more surgical worries for me. Thanks for the advice and support everyone, i appreciate it.