Ulnar Nerve Entrapment
The ulnar nerve, along with the radial and median nerves, is one of the three major nerves of the arm. It supplies sensation to most of the hand muscles, as well as to much of the forearm. If there is pressure on the ulnar nerve as it passes through the cubital tunnel, a bony passageway along the inside of the elbow, there will be sensory and motor changes in the hand.
Entrapment of the ulnar nerve is also known as cubital tunnel syndrome. If you "hit your funny bone" and have a tingling sensation in the small and ring fingers, you have hit the ulnar nerve as it is pulled into the bony groove of the cubital tunnel. With cubital tunnel syndrome there is pressure on the ulnar nerve each time the elbow is bent, reducing the supply of blood to the nerve. This causes damage to the nerve over time.
If you have changes in sensation to the muscles in the hand (except for the muscle used to control the thumb), this may be the result of sensory and/or motor (muscle) nerve compression. Sometimes it is difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of the problem. Specific causes may include: An injury in the region of the elbow, such as a fracture, dislocation, direct blow, or severe twisting of the elbow. Sudden forceful flexion and extension of the elbow as may occur while holding the steering wheel during a rear end vehicular collision also pressure on the nerve while performing jobs requiring significant elbow flexion throughout the day, such as typing, computer data entry, or assembly line work.
You will feel numbness and tingling in the ring and little fingers and along the back and side of the hand. These sensations are more acute when your elbow is bent, as in the following situations: holding a telephone, resting the head on the hand, crossing your arms over the chest, curling your arm under your body at night, holding your hand on top of a steering wheel and using the computer for long periods of time.You may also experience a general weakening of the motor function of the hand, causing you to drop things or have difficulty opening jars. You may have a hard time coordinating your fingers while typing or playing the guitar, piano, or violin. The problem usually worsens with activities or occupations that are practiced over an extended period of time.
Some patients with ulnar nerve entrapment have pain along the inside border of the shoulder blade on the same side as the nerve irritation, though this is not a common symptom.
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