NEWSLETTER Living Hands for
SPECIALTY EXPERTISE For Shoulders, Arms, and Hands
“Funny Bone” Problems Are No Laughing Matter. Splinting and Treatment of Ulnar Neuropathy
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Do you notice the “funny bone” feeling when your elbow is bent while driving or holding the phone? Are you waking up at night with a numb ring finger or pinkie? You may be experiencing ulnar nerve neuropathy. Fortunately, our certified hand therapists know the solutions that work! The ulnar nerve travels from your shoulder to your ring and pinky fingers. The nerve passes under the bony bump on the inner aspect of the elbow (i.e., medial epicondyle). The nerve is relatively unprotected as it travels through this tunnel (i.e., cubital tunnel) and can be compressed between your bone and the skin. Pressure and/or injury to the ulnar nerve results in pain, tingling, or numbness in one or both hands. When you hit the ulnar nerve, we describe it as hitting our “funny bone.” Hitting the nerve sends sensations of tingling, numbness, burning, and/or pain down the inside of your arm to the ring and little fingers. If these symptoms persist or occur without hitting the nerve, you could
benefit from having a certified hand therapist assess your condition. What are the causes and risk factors associated with ulnar neuropathy? Persistent pain and tingling in the arm can disrupt our normal daily activities, including household chores, work responsibilities, and even sleep. For some, waiting too long leads to more severe problems like weakness and loss of function in the affected hand. Ulnar neuropathy is often the result of prolonged stretching or pressure on the nerve itself. When the arm is bent for a long time, the ulnar nerve is in a sustained, stretched position, creating tension, which decreases the blood flow to the nerve and causes nerve irritation. Compression on the nerve happens when you lean your elbow/arm against a table or due to repetitive movements in a bent position, such as a computer programmer. The key is identifying what you are doing at the time of your symptoms or what you did immediately
before you noticed the signs.
The key with hand therapy is to identify what patients are doing when their symptoms start. Hand therapists accomplish this by zeroing in on the activities or positions that provoke the symptoms.
The most common risk factors include:
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Being over 40 years old
• Overhead throwing activities
• Work which involves prolonged elbow flexion or resting elbows on a hard surface Symptoms can sometimes be associated with other conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and can be aggravated by alcoholism and smoking. Our hand therapists can help identify the solutions regardless of the cause. Article Continues Inside >>
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