Possible Cubital Tunnel Syndrome - Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Message Board

RAINIE73 · 04-27-2007, 10:05 AM

Hello Everyone,

I have a couple of questions. My internal doctor recommended me to an orthopedic surgeon when I told her about all the problems I am having with both my elbows and hands. It started about a year ago, my right elbow was always aching. My family doctor told me it was probally arthritis (I have DJD in several of my joints and have MRI's on them), so my doctor figured that was what it was and prescribed me Voltaren. Since taking the Voltaren, the aching has subsided, but about a month ago, I noticed everytime I bend my elbows (I am feeling it in both elbows) or lean it on a table top or arm rest, my fingers go numb. I did a web search and found info relating to Cubital Tunnel/ Ulnar Nerve. The internist dr said that was definately what it was. I also read that you can start to feel a loss of strength or weakness in your hands and at a more advanced stage of it. After I had read that, it had me kind of worried as I have lost about half of my strength in both of my hands, which I had told my doctors that before and they basically did not address it or acted like it was no big deal. To me it is a big deal, I now have to rely on others to open jars and bottles or carrying some things. I used to consider myself a very strong woman and now I feel weak, which I had thought it was just my fibro I was recently diagnosed with.

-My Question is at what stage do they decide before the do surgery? I made an appointment with the orthopedic surgeon and that is on May 3rd. Also, what kind of tests and treatment have they put any of you through before doing surgery. I am just trying to prepare myself, if surgery is what they feel would be the best option.

I have definately been watching how I use my arms as to help prevent the numbness and pins and needles. There is usually not much pain when I take the Voltaren 2 x daily. I am taking cymbalta also and it says you should use caution while taking the 2 together, so I had stopped for about a week with the Voltaren, but couldn't handle the aching and soreness of my elbow and other joints. I also take 3-5 darvocets daily for back pain (4 herniated disks), so I am wondering would they give me something a little stronger for pain, if I do have surgery.

I have so many health problems that have all of a sudden started poping up in the past 2 years. It is getting so annoying! But I feel that I deal with it pretty good though!

Best of luck to everyone else and have a great day!

Rain~ (Lorraine)

RAINIE73 · 04-30-2007, 10:28 AM

I have just started having another symptom this weekend. The back of my upper arm, right above my elbow has a burning and tingly sensation. Has anyone else ever had this? Does this mean it is getting worse?

Also, I have noticed dry patches right at the webbing in between the pinky and ring fingers. I started getting this about a year 1 1/2 ago. I just read that, that is a symptom of nerve irriation. Has anyone else had this either?

Thanks Rain

signing · 05-02-2007, 05:57 PM

Hi!

I am posting in the "neuropathy" board because this is what my initial diagnosis was, but maybe I should be in here as well?

Mine started on Easter Sunday of all days, experienced sudden pain in my left elbow that travelled down to my pinky finger and made it numb. My neck was also killing me. Pain at around 6-7 on a scale from 1-10 so I got into the doctor right away the next morning. He said "neuropathy" and gave me some meds and said if it's not better in a week call back and we'd start testing. Well, my EMG was yesterday and she said that it was probably something like cubital tunnel syndrome, which is a neuropathy of the ulnar nerve in the arm.

I am having a lot of pain and discomfort with this but I am unsure what my next step will be. I have no idea what is going to happen nor how to answer your questions (i.e., surgery). Let's keep one another updated, shall we? I hope to hear from my doctor tomorrow and I assume he'll either send me for an MRI (I am having neck pain also which the doctor who did my EMG said that it is not a normal symptom of cubital tunnel) or straight to a neuro.

What I would tell you is to keep the affected elbow straight as much as possible. Bending the elbow stretches the nerve and causes more symptoms with me, so it can't hurt. I have trained myself to keep it straight as I sleep and awake with numbness but with much less pain.

Monica

RAINIE73 · 05-02-2007, 07:45 PM

Hi,

I am sorry that you are having the same pains I am having! They are pretty annoying! I am pretty anxious to see what the doctor says. I have an appointment tomorrow at noon with an orthopedic specialist that my internal doctor recommended.

I have been doing alot of thinking lately and think it might be from a possible fall I had about 3 years ago. I fell down the stairs at my parents house and as I was falling, I caught onto hand rail to try and catch myself. I think I may have damaged my right elbow and left shoulder, because I remember feeling like I was being jerked apart. I was in quit abit of pain for awhile after that, especially my back and rib cage. I think for about 3-4 months it hurt to laugh, cough or sneeze. My upper back to this day still bothers me on top of all the lower back problems I have been having. Last year, when my elbow really started bothering me, I had my mom look at it to see if it looked swollen at all. She said it did and looked deformed a little, compared to the other arm. I had never noticed it before. My doctor at that time took xrays and said he didn't see anything. He also sent me for a MRI, but on my lower back and my left shoulder. My shoulder showed degenerative joint disease and my lower back showed an increase in the degeneration I have had there for quit awhile. I also had a ton of xrays the day of the fall. I had passed out after that, and my family insisted I go the the ER.

Well besides all of that, on Monday, after I was at work for just 2 hours I couldn't stand the aching anymore, so I went to the drug store and bought an elbow brace and a wrist brace. The aching seems to subside when I am wearing them. But I know the problem is still there. My fingers also go numb much quicker when I bend my elbow. I am afraid to see what the doctor thinks. I wish I knew what other people experiences are. Like how long do they make you wear braces or cortizone shots or even physical therapy. I really do not want physical therapy as I have been through it many of times for my back. Half the time it feels like its a waste of time. It seems like it helps some of the pain, then stops helping and I am still having some pain. But thats with my back and each doctor I have seen, says the same thing. That I will eventually need surgery.

I do try to keep my elbow as straight as possible, but it is so hard!!! I am so busy at work and I forget about it, until I bend and feel it again. The brace seems to be helping me a little, but I think I will need a better brace.

Has your neuro doctor recommended anything else for you? or are you thinking of finding a different doctor? I am wondering if I should perhaps see a neuro? One of my mom"s cousins is a neurologist and I always thought he was such a nice guy. I am thinking that if I do not get anywhere with the orthopedic doctor tomorrow, I may make an appointment with my mom's cousin.

Well I wish you best of luck with your next appointment and will post back tomorrow evening to let you know how the appointment went!

Thanks so much~ Rain (Lorraine)

RAINIE73 · 05-03-2007, 12:02 PM

Hi Monica,

Just got back from my appointment. I am still in a bit of shock, not knowing whats going to happen. He said it is in a more advanced stage and I have alot of muslce wasting in my right forearm (thats where it looks abit deformed) and some muscle wasting in both hands. His recommendation is to go straight to surgery. Of course he is sending me for some testing. Tomorrow, I am scheduled for an EMG and then I have a follow up appointment with him next week for the results. I am not too worried about surgery, just about being off work for a few weeks and the whole recovery process. I kind of seen all of this coming. I have been doing some research on it. As soon as my boss gets back from lunch, I am going to go tell him about it. Fun! He's nice most of the time! Lol! So he shouldn't give me a hard time!
So when is your next appointment?

Later Lorraine