Re: Cubital Tunnerl Syndrome

In Reply to: Cubital Tunnerl Syndrome posted by Paul on March 04, 2004 at 18:51:44:

: Hey all, how lucky am I to have come across this great site?!?!! Here is my situation: I went to a physiatrist three days ago to have him look at a chronic upperback injury as well as tingling in my pinkie and ring fingers in my left hand I have been experiencing the last three months. Appearantly the back injury and tingling are not related. After having an EMG, the doc said I have 50% blockage of the ulnar nerve at the elbow. This was a shock to me because I have never had problems with my elbow. He jumped into saying I needed surgery, but we could try a cortisone shot first. I have scheduled an appointment to have a cortisone shot next week to see if that takes care of the problem. I have also made a more conscious effort to keep my arms straight at work, sleep with a brace on at night, and I am taking Vit B-6 which I hear can help. I am real confused about all of this because I have not lost any strenth in my hand and am not having any tingling except in the pinkie and ring fingers. My elbow is not numb nor is my forearm. Do you think I should get a second opinion? Should I ask for an MRI? Do you think it is just a coincidence that the problem area is on the same side that I hurt my back? I started a job that requires me to be at a desk all day about seven month ago, so I am thinking that may be the culprit.

: If it is cubital tunnel syndrome, does anyone have any words of wisdom or advice? Any advice is much appreciated. Thanks is advance.

Welcome Paul,
I don't have cubital tunnel syndrome myself, but many here have had it or have it now. I'm sure they will help you when they read your post. I don't know that much about it, but I believe our body parts are supposed to work together as whole, and if something goes wrong with one part, it will affect other parts. It may not be a coincidence that you hurt your back and now have problems with your elbow..However your job could have something to do with it also. You might have to be patient until properly diagnosed as sometimes it takes awhile to weed out all the possibilites. Personally I wouldn't jump right into surgery yet, but I do have a friend who had that surgery is has done well since then. Maybe an MRI would help with a final diagnoses.
Good luck,
Debbie