General Questions About Cubital Tunnel Syndrome - Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Message Board

photonut1998 · 09-20-2005, 03:17 PM

I was diagnosed with Cubital Tunnel Syndrome about 2 months ago, and I've been seeing a physical therapist for about a month (though my symptoms have been around for almost a year) The exercises the PT gave me to do aren't helping, if anything, my symptoms are getting worse - numbness of my hands/fingers at night (pinkie and ring fingers). I go back to the PT in about 2 weeks (he's on vacation), and they mentioned that it would be my last visit. I know nothing about the surgery to correct the problem, if that's what needs to be done. I would appreciate any personal experiences anybody's had with this. I would espcially like to know about how the recovery was, length of recovery, how much time was taken off for work, is the surgery done as an in-patient, how long does the surgery take, etc...I work as a typist ~ 30-35 hours per week, so hopefully workman's comp will cover any out-of-pocket expenses I incur. Any other useful advice would be much appreciated (i.e: any regrets to having surgery? If surgery made it worse, etc..). Oh, I don't know if it matters, but I'm 25. Thanks in advance.

sivyaleah · 09-20-2005, 08:17 PM

I can empathize as I'm in the same situation. I started with my orthopedist (I trust him, he did surgery on my knee last year and is NOT pushing me towards surgery) but wanted another opinion. Saw a neurologist last week, who said that surgery for this problem is not as straight-forward as carpal tunnel is. Frequently, it does not solve the problem and his recommendation at the moment was not to have surgery. He wanted me to repeat the nerve testing I had last month, because apparently that person didn't do a complete test. Then, he wants the neurosurgeon in is practice to view the results and consult with me also - NOT for surgery, just for an opinion about what to do about it. My situation is compounded by the fact that I also have a pinched nerve in my neck, which is causing the same problem in my left hand as my right, but, for a different reason. It's called a "double-crush" although a lot of doctors don't believe in that diagnosis.

Anyway, my big problem isn't so much pain now, as it is that the numbness keeps me awake literally all night. I toss and turn, trying to readjust to get rid of the numbness - it's a pain in the a--.

So, like you, I'm caught between a rock and a hard place about what to do. Have you had nerve testing yet? I've heard that PT doesn't do much good either - I've tried some low tech ways of trying to not do things which aggravate it to no avail. I'm an office manager, am on the computer all day long - so not much I can do to avoid using/bending my arms all day.

As my husband says; "blah!"

Good luck, keep us posted about your progress. I'd love to hear other's stories too!

photonut1998 · 09-20-2005, 08:39 PM

No, I haven't had a nerve test, yet. We'll see what the PT says in a couple of weeks. Or should I schedule it on my own? Or do I need a referral? I had surgery about 5 months ago for a separate problem, but that surgeon is also a hand specialist, who mentioned carpal/cubital tunnel. He thought that the surgery would clear up my numb hand problem, among other things; five months later, my hands still go numb at night. Also, if I rest my elbow on any surface (table, couch, etc) and rest my head on my hand, or extend my arm way out, or put my hands behind my head, etc...it's been going on for almost a year and I just can't take it anymore. Right about now, I'd go in for surgery tomorrow if I knew it would go away. Surgery doesn't scare me, just that it would get worse, judging from other posts I've read on various message boards. Any advice about recovery and time to take off work would be great, from anybody who's been there-done that.

sivyaleah · 09-21-2005, 07:21 AM

Personally, I can't see how any doctor can diagnose this problem without the nerve testing being done. While the symptoms are indicative of the problem, there could be other issues at play and having the nerve testing is the gold standard for diagnosing these type of problems. You would need a referral as far as I know. My insurance lets me self-refer, but my doctor did give me the go-ahead for this particular testing.

The testing is not pleasant, I have to admit and anyone else would tell you the same. Some people tolerate it better than others - for me, it was an annoyance but I managed to get through it relatively ok. Unfortunately, the doctor that did my tests apparently did not administer a portion of it which she should have (sensory testing) and my neurologist now wants me to re-do the entire test. While I'm not happy about this - I'd rather get proper results so that we can move on from that point knowing exactly what it is we need to do - whether it is surgery or not.

You sound like you already know that surgery may not be a cure completely since you still have a problem and have already undergone a prior surgery. Mind you, online you it may be difficult to find people who had success with these surgeries, because people who are not in pain or discomfort have no reason to visit the boards to seek continuing help. My orthopedist said in his experience this surgery works well for "most" people, however, my neurologist is leaning the opposite way, saying that the surgery frequently does not solve the problem entirely, or with enough benefit to have undergone the surgery. That's where I am now - stuck between to opinions and that is why after the test is redone I'll be consulting with the neurosurgeon as well.

I have all the symptoms you mention - it's quality of life thing for me, it impacts my job and my daily life plus my personal life is suffering a bit from it as well (my husband is quite bummed that he can't snuggle up next to me much anymore, the position is a killer, hands go numb almost immediately).

Lus know if you go for the nerve testing

photonut1998 · 09-21-2005, 02:40 PM

Thanks for the info - I didn't know the nerve test was needed to actually confirm the problem. I imagine it will need to be done in order to get workman's comp to cover any expenses. Without getting into the detail about the nature of my past surgery, I will say this: I had a problem with many symptoms (including my numb hands). There was no doubt that surgery was the only way to correct the problem. Well, all the symptoms are now gone (I'm thrilled with the results) except my numb hands. I see the surgeon again next month for my 6 month follow-up, but when I was there last month, he was more concerned with my hands than he was with checking how my healing has gone. I read that one way to "fix" cubital tunnel, for lack of a better term, was to stop whatever activity was causing it, in my case, that would be my typing job. I don't know, I love that job. Do you know if this drastic measure would be necessary? Can people overcome CuTS and keep a typing job? I think I will call the PT office and see what they have to say about the nerve test - now I want it so I know for sure.