• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Virtual Clinic
  • Patient Portal
  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Surgery Center
  • Self-Pay Pricing
Watauga Orthopaedics
Watauga Orthopaedics
  • Phone: (423) 282-9011
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Meet the Team
    • Meet Our Doctors
      • Alan Aiken, DO
      • Marc Aiken, MD
      • Jonathan D. Bryant, DO
      • D. Christopher Carver, MD
      • Robert J. DeTroye, MD
      • Parker P. Duncan, MD
      • Richard W. Duncan, MD
      • Tyler M. Duncan, DO
      • Jason A. Fogleman, MD
      • Jeffrey J. France, MD
      • Joseph R. Hurst, DO
      • Thomas W. Gill, Jr., MD
      • Timothy D. Jenkins, MD
      • Kent J. Lord, MD
      • Scott R. MacDonald, DO
      • Mark T. McQuain, MD
      • Eric D. Parks, MD
      • Dustin M. Price, MD
      • Gregory L. Stewart, MD
      • J. Michael Wells, MD
    • Meet Our Mid-Level Providers
    • Meet Our Therapists
  • Specialties
    • Spine/Neck/Back
    • Shoulder & Elbow
    • Hand & Wrist
    • Hip & Knee
    • Foot & Ankle
  • Treatments & Services
    • General Orthopaedics
    • Orthopedic Surgery
    • Sports Medicine
    • Trauma & Fractures
    • Joint Replacement
    • Walk-In Clinic
    • Imaging
    • Physical Therapy
    • DME/Orthotics
    • Work-Related Injuries
    • Non-Surgical Treatments
    • Pediatric Orthopedics
    • Robotic Surgery
  • In The Community
  • Locations
    • Johnson City
    • Kingsport
    • Bristol
    • Center for Advanced Bone and Joint Surgery
  • Patient Resources
  • Contact Us

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

April 19, 2019

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

For anyone who has hit the back of their elbow against a hard object, they’ve learned that the “funny bone” doesn’t feel so funny. Imagine waking up every day with the same feeling that lasts for several minutes.

That is one of the symptoms caused by cubital tunnel syndrome, the second most common type of peripheral nerve entrapment in the body – it affects the ulnar nerve. It ranks only behind carpal tunnel syndrome, which affects the median nerve.

What Is Cubital Tunnel Syndrome?

In cubital tunnel syndrome, the ulnar nerve has been squeezed, irritated, or injured. The ulnar nerve runs from the side of the neck down the arm, behind the elbow, out into the front of the elbow, and down to the pinky and ring fingers. Compression or “entrapment” tends to occur at the elbow.

The symptoms of cubital tunnel syndrome vary from person to person, but they generally include numbness and tingling in the hands – specifically in the pinky and ring fingers when the elbow is bent. It can also cause pain in those fingers and in the hand, and this can affect both the strength and agility of the person’s grip.

Another common sign of ulnar entrapment is an ache or pain radiating from the inside of the elbow.

How Is Cubital Tunnel Syndrome Diagnosed?

Most orthopedists use a combination of a physical exam, analyzing the patient’s complete medical history, and having diagnostic tests to verify the condition. One of those tests may include a nerve conduction test, which measures the rate at which nerve signals travel. This helps the physician to determine whether the nerve is compressed or constricted somewhere.

An electromyogram (EMG) checks both nerve and muscle function and also tests the muscles of the forearm controlled by the ulnar nerve. An X-ray may be completed to determine whether bone spurs or arthritis is causing nerve compression.

Treatment for Nerve Entrapment

There are many methods used to treat cubital tunnel syndrome and the associated nerve entrapment. The first recommendation will be to rest the elbow and wrist area, which can be difficult to do.

If the symptoms don’t subside, the doctor may recommend that you wear a brace or splint when sleeping or working in order to limit the elbow’s movements. The orthopedist may also recommend wearing an elbow pad to protect it from hard surfaces. They may also recommend corticosteroid injections and physical therapy on the hands to help restore normal function.

If the measures explained above are unsuccessful, your orthopedist may recommend surgery to release the pressure on the ulnar nerve caused by the cubital tunnel. Your surgeon may relocate the nerve or remove any pieces of bone that may be causing the condition.

Orthopedic Surgeons in the Tri-Cities, Tennessee

If you or someone close to you is experiencing tingling hands and fingers, it may be a result of some type of nerve impingement or cubital tunnel syndrome.

Contact us at Watauga Orthopaedics by calling (423) 282-9011 or request a consultation online. It’s time to get your hands in good working order and feeling normally again.

Filed Under: Nerve Damage Tagged With: Cubital Tunnel Syndrome, medical condition, Orthopedic Surgeons, peripheral nerve

Primary Sidebar

April 2019
M T W T F S S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930  
« Mar   May »

Categories

  • Arthritis
  • Back Pain
  • Bone Health
  • Broken Bone
  • Facet Block
  • Fracture
  • General
  • General Orthopedics
  • Hand Dislocations
  • Hand Therapist
  • Herniated Discs
  • Hip
  • Hip Fractures
  • Hip Pain
  • Knee Pain
  • Lumbar Pain
  • Meniscal Tear
  • Neck Pain
  • Nerve Damage
  • Orthopedic Doctor
  • Orthopedic Injury
  • Orthopedic Surgeon
  • Orthopedic Surgery
  • Orthopedic Urgent Care
  • Orthopedics
  • Orthopedist
  • Pediatric Orthopedics
  • Physical Therapy
  • Shoulder & Elbow
  • Sports Medicine
  • Tendonitis
  • Work Injuries
  • Wrist Pain

Tags

Arthritis back pain bones Chronic Pain fracture Fractures Hip Hip Fractures joint pain Low Back Pain lumbar pain Musculoskeletal Injuries orthopedic orthopedic care orthopedic care near me Orthopedic Clinic Johnson City orthopedic clinic Johnson City TN orthopedic clinic near me Orthopedic Doctor Orthopedic doctor Bristol TN Orthopedic doctor near me Orthopedic Injuries orthopedic physical therapy Orthopedics Orthopedic Surgeon Orthopedic Surgeon Johnson City TN Orthopedic Surgeon near me Orthopedic Surgeons Kingsport TN Orthopedic Surgeons near me orthopedic surgery orthopedist pain Pediatric Orthopedics Pediatric Orthopedist Physical therapist near me Physical therapists near me physical therapy Physical Therapy Bristol TN Physical Therapy Johnson City physical therapy Johnson City TN Physical Therapy Kingsport TN Physical therapy near me Physical Therapy Services Watauga Orthopaedics Watauga Orthopedics

Footer

woman checking her laptop with smile

BLOG

Get the latest news and information about research and advancements in orthopedic sports medicine, as well updates about our practice, with our exclusive blog.

Learn More

Patient Stories

As a well-established and respected part of the northeast Tennessee and southwest Virginia communities, Watauga Orthopaedics often receives glowing reviews from our patients for the exceptional personalized service we provide. Here are just a few of our favorite testimonials:

View All
Interior Patient Stories

Patient Reviews

Want to know what others had to say about their experience with us? Visit your Watauga Orthopaedics provider profile to read the reviews.

Read Our Reviews

Quick Links

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Meet the Team
  • Specialties
  • Treatments & Services
  • In The Community
  • Patient Education
  • Blog
  • Patient Portal
  • Web Portal
  • Locations
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Non-Discrimination Policy
  • Employee Email Login
  • Accessibility Statement
  • HIPAA Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap

JOHNSON CITY ORTHOPAEDICS OFFICE
2410 Susannah Street | Johnson City, TN 37601
Physical Therapy Office: 2412 Susannah Street | Johnson City, TN 37601
Phone: (423) 282-9011
Fax: (423) 282-0035
Appointments: M-F: 8 am – 5 pm
Walk-In Clinic:
M-F, 8 am – 8 pm
Sat: 8 am – 5 pm | Sun: 1 pm – 5 pm
Virtual Clinic:
M-F: 8 pm – 10 pm | Sat-Sun: 5 pm – 10 pm

KINGSPORT ORTHOPAEDICS OFFICE
875 Larry Neil Way | Kingsport, TN 37660
Phone: (423) 282-9011
Fax: (423) 282-0035
Appointments: M-F, 8 am – 5 pm
Walk-In Clinic: M-F, 8 am – 8 pm
Virtual Clinic:
M-F: 8 pm – 10 pm | Sat-Sun: 5 pm – 10 pm

BRISTOL ORTHOPAEDICS OFFICE 
340 Steeles Road | Bristol, TN 37620
Phone: (423) 282-9011
Fax: (423) 282-0035
Appointments: M-F, 8 am – 5 pm
Walk-In Clinic: M-F, 8 am – 8 pm
Virtual Clinic:
M-F: 8 pm – 10 pm | Sat-Sun: 5 pm – 10 pm

Copyright © · Watauga Orthopaedics · All Rights Reserved
iHealthspot Medical Website Design and Medical Marketing by iHealthSpot.com

At Watauga Orthopaedics, our board-certified orthopedic surgeons are experts in treating injuries and conditions of the Spine/Neck/Back, Foot & Ankle, Hand & Wrist, Hip & Knee, Joint Replacement, Pediatric Orthopaedics, Shoulder & Elbow, Sports Medicine, Trauma & Fractures, and Work-Related Injuries. We offer multiple treatments and services in Johnson City, Kingsport, and Bristol, TN.