Ulnar nerve transposition surgery- post op problems
Sorry this is long..
In the past I have had two ulnar nerve compression surgeries. Both were medial epicondylectomy with decompression. After a long period of time between each surgery my symptoms came back. My second surgery he discovered my ulnar nerve was curling up and crushed under heavy scar tissue near the funny bone.
I recently went through my third surgery which was ulnar transposition surgery along with decompression of my right elbow almost two weeks ago. Once again my ulnar nerve was curled up and crushed under heavy scar tissue near the funny bone. He decompressed it and moved the nerve underneath fat. I think its called subcutaneous transpostion?
With all my surgeries I experienced post op pain that eventually became better. But this time I'm not sure if what I am experiencing is normal with the transposition surgery. When I woke up in the recovery room I had intense pins n' needles in my little, ring finger and palm of hand below these two fingers. I figured this was due to the fact I just had surgery and due to the type of surgery I had. Over several days these pins n' needles slowly became more intense. I also had a heavy or dead type feeling on top of my hand near the little and ring finger, worse at night.
I'm also experiencing a crushing type sensation, pain in my elbow. Almost like someone is squeezing the life out of my elbow or a large animal is stepping on it. This sensation comes and goes but 6 days ago it became so intense that I almost fell over. I have a high pain tolerance but this literally made me cry. It is now almost constant.
I did see the plastic surgeon for a follow up this past week and brought up the above symptoms. I was told " This shouldn't be occuring because I moved your nerve out of the problem area. " He plans on sending me to a pain clinic and physical therapy. I go back in three to four weeks for a follow up.
Is this crushing sensation normal after this type of surgery? And the increase in pins n' needles?
I'm still experiencing this crushing sensation. It comes and goes, other times steady.
Re: Ulnar nerve transposition surgery- post op problems
sounds like you had some problems with you op like i may have. only i cant feel my elbow at all, and its been 2 1/2 weeks since my surgery. i could feel my elbow before the op, but now theres no feeling at all. did you by any chance have a numb elbow after surgery.
Re: Ulnar nerve transposition surgery- post op problems
I had an ulnar nerve transposition surgery, the same one you had the 3rd time, in 08/08 and yep I too had intense pins and needles feeling in my arm. It was very painful. I kept on asking the doctor, his assistant and the occupational therapist if this was normal and I never got an answer. They would just tell me that it takes a really long time to recover from this type of surgery. Sorry, don't know if this is normal or not.
I do have one question - did the doctor know that your ulnar nerve was curled prior to surgery and if so, how can they tell this? from the EMG?
Re: Ulnar nerve transposition surgery- post op problems
Quote:
Originally Posted by bilybowl
I had an ulnar nerve transposition surgery, the same one you had the 3rd time, in 08/08 and yep I too had intense pins and needles feeling in my arm. It was very painful. I kept on asking the doctor, his assistant and the occupational therapist if this was normal and I never got an answer. They would just tell me that it takes a really long time to recover from this type of surgery. Sorry, don't know if this is normal or not.
I do have one question - did the doctor know that your ulnar nerve was curled prior to surgery and if so, how can they tell this? from the EMG?
I haven't been on the boards for awhile. I'm still experiencing the crushing sensation, pins n' needles etc. Been to a pain clinic, pain meds help a bit. Otherwise no answers. Surgeon will be sending me to another surgeon for a second opinion but it will be a long wait. I live in Canada and there is a huge waiting list to see plastic surgeons. This one I told could be a year wait.
The EMG didn't show the curled nerve. In fact my test came back normal. I was going to be cut loose but I insisted something was wrong. When he opened up elbow that is when he discovered it.
Re: Ulnar nerve transposition surgery- post op problems
Quote:
Originally Posted by bilybowl
I had an ulnar nerve transposition surgery, the same one you had the 3rd time, in 08/08 and yep I too had intense pins and needles feeling in my arm. It was very painful. I kept on asking the doctor, his assistant and the occupational therapist if this was normal and I never got an answer. They would just tell me that it takes a really long time to recover from this type of surgery. Sorry, don't know if this is normal or not.
I do have one question - did the doctor know that your ulnar nerve was curled prior to surgery and if so, how can they tell this? from the EMG?
I haven't been on the boards for awhile. I'm still experiencing the crushing sensation, pins n' needles etc. Been to a pain clinic, pain meds help a bit. Otherwise no answers. Surgeon will be sending me to another surgeon for a second opinion but it will be a long wait. I live in Canada and there is a huge waiting list to see surgeons. I go to a plastic surgeon.I was told it could be a year wait.
The EMG didn't show the curled nerve. In fact my test came back normal. I was going to be cut loose but I insisted something was wrong. When he opened up elbow for the second surgery that is when he discovered it. Third surgery showed mild compression but when opened up once again the nerve was curled up again.
Re: Ulnar nerve transposition surgery- post op problems
Sorry to hear that you're still having alot of pain. It is amazing how long it takes to heal from this type of surgery and that the doctors are not good at communicating this information.
I took gabapentin for a while, but for me, it caused severe indigestion problems, but what did help, was arnica gel. I used it 3 times a day, then 2 times a day, and now every once and while. I have also used an elastic elbow support, which has also helped a great deal.
