Are you involved in activities that exert excess pressure on your arms and elbows? Have you felt discomfort after such activities? Have you experienced shocking pain and numbness in your elbows? Do you experience recurrent pain in your elbows? If your answer is yes, then you might stay cautious. Exerting more pressure on your elbows can cause a health condition called cubital tunnel syndrome.
This condition that causes pain in the elbows due to the compression of the ulnar nerves. However, what are ulnar nerves and cubital tunnel syndrome? Are you curious to know more about this health condition? This article may help you. This article will provide details of cubital tunnel syndrome including its symptoms causes, treatments, and preventive measures. So, continue reading and learn more about this health condition.
Understanding Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
Cubital tunnel syndrome is a health disorder that affects the ulnar nerves in the hands. So, this condition is also known as ulnar nerve entrapment. As you all know, various types of nerves exist in the human body. These nerves that carry messages from the brain to different parts of the body are categorized into three, the median, the ulnar, and the radial.
The ulnar nerves arrive from the neck and extend to the arms and hands. These nerves get compressed or squeezed in certain conditions causing pain and irritation. The cubital tunnel syndrome is a condition that arises when this compression happens at your elbows.
Causes of Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
Although the exact cause of cubital tunnel syndrome is unknown, several reasons can lead to the compression of the ulnar nerve. Some of them include:
- Pressure
The excess pressure exerted on the ulnar nerve is a common cause of cubital tunnel syndrome. The ulnar nerves are more sensitive near the elbows. This is a reason why people experience sudden pain or shocking sensations when they accidentally hit their elbows. So, the excess pressure exerted on the elbows will increase the chances of compression and squeezing of the ulnar nerves.
- Injuries
When a person gets injured at their elbows due to fractures, sprains, swelling, or dislocations, the chances of anatomical changes. This will result in neural issues like compression causing chronic pain and discomfort.
- Stretching
Stretching the ulnar nerves beyond a point can also cause symptoms similar to cubital tunnel syndrome. As the ulnar nerve lies behind the medial epicondyle, a secondary growth at the elbow, stretching the elbow can cause anatomical position changes in the ulnar nerve. When this repeats for longer periods, the ulnar nerves will experience damage causing pain and other problems.
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Symptoms Associated With Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
As a condition that affects the elbows, most symptoms of cubital tunnel syndrome affect the hands and arms. Some of the most common symptoms of this condition are:
- Tingling and numbness in the ring and little finger. Unlike other symptoms, this symptom does not last for long. It occurs now and then, especially when the elbows are bent for a long time.
- Intense throbbing pain inside the elbows.
- Numbness in the fingers that makes it difficult to bend or move the fingers. Sometimes, people may also experience difficulty in manipulating objects.
- Reduced grip and coordination of the fingers. Such conditions make it difficult to hold an object, play a musical instrument, or type.
- Long-term cubital tunnel syndrome that is left untreated can lead to more serious and irreversible conditions like muscle wasting.
Diagnosis of Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
Like any other medical condition, examining the patient’s history and physical conditions is the first step in diagnosing the cubital tunnel syndrome. Other common diagnosis methods are listed below:
- Nerve conduction test
The nerve conduction test is a common diagnosis method suggested by healthcare professionals if a patient experiences numbness and tingling in the nerves. Under this diagnosis test, the functions of the peripheral nerves or the nerves outside the brain and the spinal code will be evaluated. Here, the speed and efficiency of these nerves in sending signals to and from the brain and different body parts will be examined to identify the depth and intensity of compression.
- Electromyography
This method measures the muscle responses to nerve stimulations. That means it measures whether the muscles respond promptly to the signals and messages by the nerves. Electromyography is conducted by inserting one or more small needles or electrodes into the patient’s skin. These electrodes will pick up the electrical signals and display them on an oscilloscope or monitor.
- Imaging
Different imaging techniques like high-resolution neuro-ultrasonography, magnetic resonance neurography, and X-rays analyze the size, position, structure, and degeneration of nerves. These techniques will help identify the compressions and possible damage to the nerves.
How To Treat Cubital Tunnel Syndrome?
Cubital tunnel syndrome can be treated with surgical and non-surgical methods. Even though there are different surgical methods, doctors normally begin treatment with non-invasive methods. Surgeries are often considered only in chronic conditions. This section will detail the various surgical and conservative treatment options for cubital tunnel syndrome.
Conservative Measures
- Exercises
Studies suggest that some exercises like nerve gliding exercises may improve cubital tunnel syndrome. As these exercises reduce and prevent the stiffness in the arms, they will help enhance the related problems.
- Bracing
Wearing splints and a padded brace will provide extra support to the elbows, helping them stay straight without much pressure exerted on them.
- Therapy
Hand therapies are a good option to alleviate the pain and discomfort caused by cubital tunnel syndrome. A professional therapist may help reduce the pressure exerted on the elbows through massages and other techniques.
- Over-the-counter medications
Over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen may help alleviate pain and swelling in and around the nerves in the elbows. This will help to improve cubital tunnel syndrome.
Surgical Options
- Cubital tunnel release
This procedure will cut the ligament in the roof of the cubital tunnel to make the tunnel bigger. This will help to reduce the pressure exerted on the ulnar nerve.
- Ulnar nerve anterior transposition
As the name suggests, this procedure will relocate your ulnar nerve from behind the medial epicondyle to the front. This procedure helps to avoid the compression of the ulnar nerves on the bones.
- Medial epicondylectomy
This procedure involves removing parts of the medial epicondyle to avoid the ulnar nerve compression.
Tips To Prevent Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
Preventing cubital tunnel syndrome altogether may not be possible. However, certain changes will help to reduce the risks of this syndrome. These preventive measures include:
- Avoid exerting excess pressure on the elbows
- Avoid activities that require bending the arms for longer durations
- Do not sleep on your arms. Keep your elbows straight while sleeping
- Do not lean on your elbows for long
Final Thoughts
Cubital tunnel syndrome, also known as ulnar nerve entrapment is a health condition that affects the ulnar nerves that arrive from the neck to the arms. Under this condition, these nerves get compressed due to the excess pressure exerted on them. This will result in pain and discomfort.
Although medical professionals could not provide the exact reason that causes cubital tunnel syndrome, some common causes of this condition include stretching of the ulnar nerves, injuries, fractures, and swelling in the elbows leading to structural changes, and intense pressure exerted on the nerves and elbow. Tingling, pain, and numbness in the elbows while engaging in activities that require bending of the arms, numbness of fingers, and reduced grip and coordination of the fingers are the common symptoms of cubital tunnel syndrome.
While cubital tunnel syndrome can be diagnosed using imaging techniques like MRIs and X-rays, nerve conduction tests, and electromyography, the treatments include surgical and non-surgical methods. Some of the conservative treatment options for this disorder are exercises, bracing, over-the-counter medicines, and therapies.
Surgical treatments like cubital tunnel release, ulnar nerve anterior transposition, and medial epicondylectomy are identified to be effective. However, doctors recommend them only as a final option in chronic conditions. Preventing the risks of cubital tunnel syndrome by avoiding situations that lead to excess pressure exertion on the elbows, sleeping with straight elbows, and avoiding activities that demand bending elbows for longer durations are more beneficial.
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FAQs
Daily activities that include bending or flexing elbows can worsen cubital tunnel syndrome. Elbow compression caused while leaning on the elbows for a long time, sleeping on arms, or even repeated arm movements can intensify this issue.
Yes. There are non-surgical treatments for cubital tunnel syndrome which will be introduced first. Doctors will prescribe surgeries only for chronic conditions.
The time taken to recover after a cubital tunnel syndrome surgery varies from person to person. A transposition may require three to six weeks of rest, while other surgeries recommend only fewer days of rest.
Yes. Nerve gliding exercises for arms and hands will help to relieve the pain of cubital tunnel syndrome.
Taking proper care of your arms and hands by avoiding resting and leaning on your elbows, sleeping with straight elbows, and avoiding exerting excess pressure on your elbows are some preventive measures for cubital tunnel syndrome.
A long-term untreated cubital tunnel syndrome can lead to atrophy, a condition where the muscles weaken, making your hands look bony and non-functional.
