If you’ve hit your funny bone, then you know the stinging, sharp pain it can cause. But, did you know your funny bone isn’t a bone at all? It’s actually a nerve called the ulnar nerve. When this nerve becomes inflamed or injured, it can cause cubital tunnel syndrome. The team at TriHealth Orthopedics & Sports Institute and Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine offers comprehensive care for cubital tunnel syndrome, including diagnosing the severity of nerve damage to getting you on the road to recovery with a plan that’s right for you.
Cubital tunnel syndrome occurs when the ulnar nerve becomes injured, inflamed or pinched. The ulnar nerve runs from your neck to your fingertips and passes through a tunnel of muscle, ligament and bone called the cubital tunnel. When it becomes pinched or injured, it creates pain that feels like you’ve hit your funny bone.
The most common causes of cubital tunnel syndrome include:
Symptoms of cubital tunnel syndrome include:
Cubital tunnel syndrome can usually be diagnoses with a taking a good history of your symptoms followed by a directed physical exam. Occasionally, your physician may order a nerve test to assess the severity of the ulnar nerve problem.
If you have been diagnosed with cubital tunnel syndrome, many times it can be treated with a conservative approach. Treatments can include:
If a conservative approach doesn’t relieve the pain or symptoms, your doctor may recommend either surgical decompression of the nerve or transposition of the nerve. TriHealth Orthopedics & Sports Institute offers different surgical approaches to treat cubital tunnel syndrome, including minimally invasive procedures. We’ll work with you to recommend the procedure that’s right for you.
You may be at higher risk of developing cubital tunnel syndrome if you are diagnosed with any of the following elbow conditions:
You can help prevent cubital tunnel syndrome by reducing your risk factors. It’s important that you:
The specialists at TriHealth Orthopedics & Sports Institute and Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicineare here to help you return to your daily activities – free of pain. To learn more or make an appointment with an orthopedic specialist: Call TriHealth at 513 246 2300 or our orthopedic partner, Beacon Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, at 513 354 3700.
URGENT INJURY CARE: Multiple locations, seven days a week.