On 3/17/08 I had surgery to correct a pinched nerve in my elbow. The pinched nerve was causing the pinky and ring fingers to be numb and tingle, also serve arm aching. Hopefully this surgery will correct the issue, however the pain right now is horrible. The nerve was relocated to forearm under the muscle. Here are some pictures of my arm taken 4 days after surgery.
Picture of the incision.
Bruising.
12/15/2011 – Update #4 - http://moxiefoxtrot.com/2011/12/15/ulnar-nerve-transposition-surgery-update-4/
Hi,
I had Subcutaneous Transposition on Friday 9/25. I got my bandages and splint off today. My hand and fingers hurt a lot and are really numb. I’m hoping I see improvement. Has anyone else had Subcutaneous? I opted for that over the intra-muscular or sub-muscular. My concern is that my nerve is sitting right on top of the medial epicondyle and I thought it would be higher up. If you’ve had subcutaneous, where’s your nerve now?
Sc0tt
Scott,
I had the same surgery, my nerve was moved to the forearm. Are you having issues with your surgery?
Dutch
Not having issues, just curious about where yours ended up. The recovery is coming along, though progressing slowly.
Scott,
I can feel mine when I hit the inside of my arm, so I think that is where he moved it. My scars are barely visible, my biggest concern still is the RSD and now the progression into the shoulder and upper arm, probably because of defensive lack of use of the arm. Very painful, I can bend my arm, but reaching and holding it up are very painful in the upper arm. Pinkie still numb and the inside of the ring finger. All of my fingers are stiff and very painful upon waking, but get better as day progresses. Problems again at night. I do not know if this is due to the RSD or the transposition surgery. I have followup on the 26th, will get more info.
keep us in the loop. Hope you are feeling better.
dutch
I was wondering if you still have problems with the ulnar nerve surgery? I had on done almost two years ago and now my elbow is worse then before the surgery.
Hey Scott,
I’m having anterior ulnar nerve transposition this friday January 15th 2010. What’s the difference? From what i’ve read so far this has been a very painful experience. I’ve already had surgery twice on this arm. Rotator cuff and an elbow scope. If this pain is anything like the shoulder pain i had wow!! I’m not looking forward to that. would you keep me posted on hoe you are getting along. Hope you have a full recovery.
Mike
Hey Scott,
I’m having anterior ulnar nerve transposition this friday January 15th 2010. What’s the difference? From what i’ve read so far this has been a very painful experience. I’ve already had surgery twice on this arm. Rotator cuff and an elbow scope. If this pain is anything like the shoulder pain i had wow!! I’m not looking forward to that. would you keep me posted on how you are getting along. Hope you have a full recovery.
Mike
short update- had another mri last week – also saw an infectious disease specialist- looks like more surgey for my arm- will keep you posted
short update- had another mri last week – also saw an infectious disease specialist- looks like more surgery for my arm- will keep you posted
Michael,
Oh no, not another surgery. What happened? Please keepme posted. Get better soon.
Dutch
Hi Dutch,
Surgery is scheduled for next week- pain still as severe as before first surgery- numbness a bit better yet spreading to middle finger- pt was not helping- still hopefull for a great outcome- but must say it has been discouraging.
Michael,
I hope you have a speedy recovery and great results. I’ll keep you in my prayers. Please keep me posted.
Dutch
OMG I am totally horrified now i am being forced by workers comp for this same operation, i have had a emg that showed nerve damage in left elbow , but i also have 3 dics out in my neck and 1 in my back from the work accident ,my Dr’s Are saying i need something done to my neck and back first,But workers comp Dr’s are saying my pain is from elbow! they are trying to force me into this by nov 1st or i will lose all benefits this accident is now over 3yrs old..Also did this surgery hurt? and what steps were takin the day of? Thank you and god bless..Robert
Robert,
I had spine surgery done in California for my C6-C7 4 years ago. I had it done microscopically, very non-invasive and with great success. Very little after pain, just the usual weight restrictions and healing. Back to work PT after three weeks.
Had subcutaneous ulnar surgery of elbow and decompression of the ulnar nerve at wrist on June 17 this year. Had nothing butissues. The surgery iself went fine, great surgeon, but I had complications known as RSD, and I still am in constant pain. Not something that was caused by the surgeon, rather my body’s reaction to the trauma of surgery.This disease is not cureable, and has to go in remission, which takes a long time. I had never heard of this disease until now. Therapy 2x week. Hand stiff in the morning and upper arm and shoulder hurt all the time, due to lack of excersise from the RSD pain. Therapy is aggressive and painful at times. I think and hope that I am improving. Still have weight restrictions, and lots of home excersises.
All I can say is make sure you have a good surgeon, do your homework there. Get more than one opinion, that is your right.
hat procedure do they want to do?
Please keep us in the loop.
Dutch
Thanks Dutch,and i will keep you up to date, monday is a holiday but i will get to contact someone on tue..Thanks again and God Bless..Robert
Oh My Neck MRI Showes 5-6-7 disk In neck and l5 in back thanks again..
Robert,
i also should have my C2-C3 done, but with the RSd the doctor advised me to have no more surgeries unless life threatening. So will have to live with that. Keep me posted.
Dutch
I had a torn bicept from my shoulder, when I went to the DR. he said surgery was only cosmetic and that it wasnt even nessary! After a 6 week period, my mussle kept falling to where my elbow bends, and maid lifting things as small as a cup of coffee hard to do. I had the surgery done and he couldnt stretch the mussel to the shoulder and re-connect it there, he then drilled a hole in the forearm and clamped the end of the mussel to a clip and a mounted it there, DO I have a disabilty, my job demands that I lift 25 to 50 lbs. on a regular basis, nightly ?
Kenneth,
OMG, I am sure you have weight restrictions, and are unable to perform that job, But, I know that they will tell you that you are not disabled, I have been fighting this for the last three months. Are you feeling better, and did the surgery help you?
I had received bilaterally of general release of ulnar nerve, then led to partial submuscular, which led to anterior submuscular transposition with mytek devices. Be wise of post op care which is very important (80%) where the surgery is only (20%)for a successful outcome. I have been in the past been treated as a fracture patient rather than a nerve injuried patient which after 9 yrs i have now permentant wasting of dominant hand, at the 4th and 5th digits, 50% functioning/motor skills was forced to travel out of state for care and currentally have reoccurance of ulnar nerve lesions w/confirmed recent MRI and EMG done 4 weeks ago. To top everyting off….I have nowhere to go for treatment b/c i am now considered a high risked patient.
Hi all
it’s been 12 weeks since my subq to stablise the ulnar nerve. Does anyone have any advice if the ulnar nerve is still moving?
Regards
Kai-Lin
Hi all-
Kai-Lin, I had the same procedure done just before you (7/21/09). Of course, it was very disappointing to have no reduction in symptoms whatsoever afterwards. However, I have been doing PT 3x/week and home therapy twice a day since then. And there is progress. VERY slow progress. 4th/5th are still numd/tingly, the incision is still sore and the elbow aches after too much activity. I am back at work light duty, really taking it easy. But the ROM is good, the fingers are straightening a little and hand strength is SLOWLY returning. That’s the most frustrating part- it’s probably at 30% of previous strength but I am told that it will return. However, because of lack of use for 2 months, the interosseous muscle (between thumb and index finger) has wasting. No guarantee how much that will come back; it’s the last part of the total recovery.
I hope you have a full recovery. Advice: do as much therapy as you can stand.
Best wishes.
Hi Smith
Thanks for your advice. I had immediate moblisation of the elbow so my physio has been minimal, my problem is with the nerve itself which I can feel and see slipping around the elbow – is that normal?
Regards
Kai-Lin
Kai-Lin,
I can feel the ulnar nerve on the inside of my elbow/arm when I touch, but it has not slipped back into the grroove. I heard of it happening though. Might want to check with the doc to see if this is normal.
Dutch,
an update- surgery again took significantly longer than estimated- pain is severe, still a bit swollen and discolored- took tissue and possibly bone samples for I D Dr,
I see The I D dr this week for results. Also removed more of the bursa- they are searching for the reason that i am still in so much pain- 7-8-9 ever since the original surgery in August. I go back to the ortho around oct 26th. I am sure we will start pt again and see what happens- still have numbness and tingling in last 2 fingers and part of middle- also thumb is a bit numb. I have a much larger bandage this time and more restrictive in movement. Still hopeful and looking towards as much an improvement as possible.
Michael,
I sure hope you get better soon. I am finally starting to feel better. Still have pain when I exert myself and pinkie still numb and stiff at times. Overall much better. The arm is getting more mobile as well, and less painful. Going to see the surgeon for follow up next week. hese nerve surgeries are slow healing and it seems so hard to predict the outcome. Please keep me in the loop on our progress. as I will. I am still in PT 2x a week, I have been going now for almost 4 months.
Good luck, and hope you feel better soon.
Dutch
dutch,
i am so happy to hear your feeling better. its a long haul. would love to hear what your doc expects. i am having a lot of symptoms since oct 5 surgery. but i think its just nerve irritation and swelling.
take care
Lib,
I am going to see the doctor in St Louis on Monday, will do update then. Hope you are feeling better.
Dutch
I had my surgery in 2005. I sometimes have a ‘discomfort’ in the arm. It is still a little numb. But it is nothing to worry about. I am lucky to have WSIB and I am being retrained with completion of my degree in 2010.
Saw consultant today re popping nerve, said it was perfectly “normal” – felt like I’d been kicked in the teeth since the reason for the subq was to stop it doing that. What do I do next? Learn to live with it?
Regards
Kai-Lin
kai lin,
find another dr to see. the nerve should not be slipping like that. the nerve needs to be secured in its new path, my surgeon made a pulley with muscle to keep it in place.
good luck!
lib
Kai-Linn, lib is right. My doc secured the nerve with a bit of fascia that acts like a sling. He described this procedure before the surgery. It’s also described on a related website. Good luck and don’t give up.
Haven’t posted to this site for a while. I had bilateral sub-muscular ulnar nerve surgery last September. I knew things were going to be slow and was extremely patient. Thought I was getting somewhere until June 2009 when things started to go backwards. Now my arms are worse than they were before and no one has any answers for me. The surgeon simply says it was all a success. Will obviously have to take my treatment elsewhere. Only problem is one surgeon never likes cleaning up another surgeon’s mess or disagreeing with a work colleague. My advice to everyone, be cautious who you have do the submuscular ulnar nerve surgery. Ask many questions beforehand and get a second opinion.
Dutch- latest update- ID dr saysprob no infection- ortho surgeon thinks it may be nerve related(pain) gave me gabapentin- tough on system and seems to be useless- no pt yet- arm is visibly smaller than non surgical arm- no strength some rom– tingling in hand- numbness in elbow-
one bright spot- the weather here has been beautiful
michael
Michael,
how are you doing?
I had the sub muscular trans done last year in Oct on both arms. I have had no problems with nerve pain in either arm since. I do have a problem which started about 2 months ago and is not getting better. I am having pain from my elbow to my wrist. It gets worse when I twist my arm & wrist. I was wondering if anyone else has had this problem since there surgeries. I still say the reason for my arms turning out so good is because the Doc put my arms in long arm casts. I am not sure the problem I am having now is related.
me,
could that pain be related to the guyon canal?
Lib,
Probably not.I am not having any tingling and the pain is from the elbow to wrist.
is it on the ulnar side of the hand and elbow? is it the same hand that the guyon was bothering you?
Lib,
Yes it is on that hand but I get no tingling. When I had the guyon problem I was getting tingling and that is only when I bend my wrist backwards. The pain I get now is when I turn my hand in or try to pick something up with my arm extended out. I actually get it in both arms but not as bad on the right. I blame a lot of my pain on my right arm due to my rotator cuff surgery. I had one in march and re tore it so I had another one Oct-5-2009. I have had 6 surgeries on my right rotator. I told the doc to immobilize it in a cast or something that I can’t remove and he won’t. I actually think I might have re tore it again. I am right handed and use it a lot.
Lib,
I have issues with ROM, what excersises are good to get the shoulder not be so stiff and for better ROM?
dutch,
i wish i knew, my rom is fine, but i have been in pt for months through all of this. get a good therapist to help you.
good luck, lib
me,
i see. interesting, do you think its related to the ulnar nerve at all?
will it ever end, you have been through so much already.
i am at my wits end dealing with all this surgery stuff…..i hope i wont need any more.
lib
Me, I am sure you are tired of all this. I am doing fairly well. Still have numbness and my arm hurts most of the time. I now have issues with ROM, stiff shoulder. Tiered of the pain and tired of all of this. It has been 5 months since my surgery. I hope you do not need more surgery you have been through alot.
How long does the surgery take?
I think about 2 1/2 hours, depending on the prcedure you are having.
Went to the doc today for the pain in my left arm and his answer is I DON”T KNOW. What a dumb answer. It is now tome to find new docs. l am so fed up with the pain and the dumb answers of the docs.
My arms are not the only pain I am dealing with.I have severe chest pain that they can’t find. Been thru tons of tests and nothing shows up. I also have bad knee and leg pain. I see a pain doc but he is also useless. Does anyone see a pattern here.
Me, did you find another doctor yet? This answer is ridiculous.
Where is everybody?
I have been out of state for a while, I guess everyone is not sharing their progress.
Hello:
I am scheduled to have ulnar transpostion in December. I am having problems with the Health Office saying it is not work related. WSIB just called today. I have reported my feelings of my arm for over a year and was always dismissed by the OH Nurse saying my job is not repetitive. I take blood and help patient on off the bed and do IPGs and ECGs on a daily basis. Flexion on the left and right arm is most often. I am worried that I will be off for more than six weeks. I was hoping to be back at work in 3. What is the likely hood of that?
I would say probably not. When I had my surgeries my arms were in casts for 6 weeks. After the casts came off my arms were great.If you read the other posts on here some of the people are having problems for a lot longer. I contribute why my arms turned out so good is because of the casts. When in a cast you can’t use the arm and it gets a chance to heal. Some people take there splint off early or right away and start using the arm so it don’t get a chance to heal. Ask your Doc for a cast so it can heal. So your chances of being back to work in 3 weeks is not likely.
I agree with Me, do not try and do things too fast. Make sure you heal properly, better safe than sorry.
Hi, I just had my ulnar nerve relocated to my fore arm last week. I am so glad I did not read this site before having the surgery because I likely would have declined. I feel very bad for the people on here that are having such a difficult time post surgery.
Fortunately my surgery went extremely well. Before the surgery my left hand had developed the claw shape and was in constant pain and nummness. My forearm was also always tingling and numb. I spent about a year doing therapy and looking for the right surgeon to do the surgery and I think it paid off. I went to a sports orthopedic surgeon that specializes in joint injuries. It’s been 6 days since the surgery and I have no pain and numbness in the hand and forearm. All the symptoms I had before are now gone and my arm/hand feels great. Obviously it’s sore around the incision area and there is a lot of bruising, however I am very thankful after reading some of the tough times on here. My surgeon said mine nerve had alot of scar tissue and definetly needed the surgery. Possibly this is the reason for the immediate relief in symptoms.
Anyhow, I thought I would try to cast a positive note on the surgery. Good luck to everyone.
Tony
Hi Tony, just wondering how your elbow has progressed since the surgery?
I had surgery 2 weeks after u, and all felt fine up until about week 6, unfortunately scar tissue has attached to my nerve and not allowing it to glide freely.
Hello All: First posting;
Had left shoulder surgery in April of this year, repaired a partial ear to the labrum, removed a bone spur tha was freying the biceps tendon, & released a compressed AC joint by removing part of the colar bone. Fell on an icy diveway back in January @ work. PT was going well, was making good progress in recovery, strengthing & ROM, then WC insurance said PT wont help anymore & cut that out. Progress slowed greatly since I have been left to fen for myself. Had numbness in my pinkie & ring finger (same arm) & pian in the elbow since I fell, Dr. did MRI & EMG said results were inconclusive, but symptoms are clasic for cubital tunnal. He’s a pretty solid guy, the entire practice is the team Doctors fo the NY Jets, he’s not one of the guys you see on Sunday on the sidelines, but when it’s a big case he’s one of the go to guys. Anyway he recomended Cubital tunnal release, & ulnar nerve tanspositioning surgery. The proceedure was done last week & I go see him for post op visit #1 in a couple of days. So far the overall pain is a constant 5-6, which can & does spike to a 8-9 at times. Right now I have a hard splint, bulky bandage & a sling. The sling comes off several times a day as per Doc’s orders, & the splint has come off a few imes for brief periods, which the Doc suggested, but said was to be done at my descretion. Can’t totlly sraighten the arm out yet, it hurts like hell when I try. Intermitten numbness in pinkie & ring finger still, but I still have a decent ammount of swelling around the area where the nerve was relocated too, so I guess that is to be expected fo now. Honestly I have no idea what to expect in the short or long term. Hopefully there will be some PT, in which case maybe I can get them to mix in some stuff for the shoulder once the elbow can handle those excersizes. I just wish we could have done everything at one time. But workmans comp injuries are a b*tch getting treatment for let alone corrective surgery. Anyone feel like hey can give me a basic timeline for recovery? My job requires a lot of heavy lifting, & other strenious activities, & they do not offer lite/ modified duties so I’m basically housebound until I have recovered enough to go back to work.
Will post again after I go see the Doc later this week. Good luck all, speedy recovery, & God Bless.
I can feel all the pain here. I am wondering what has made all of the people that have posted on here to have all the surgery and trouble with the ulnar nerve?
I was in a car accident that moved all my “junk” around according to my doctor. I had a guy pull out in front of me and I t-boned him going about 45 mph. It broke his car in half and my car drove over the top of his.
When I went to the ER I found out I had a broke collar bone and a separated shoulder. Many months later I am still in PAIN and a lot if it. In my wrist and elbow. Upon seeing 2 doctors locally nothing was wrong with me.
So I sought out a doctor a few hours away. Who finds out how many things were not where they were suppose to be in my wrist and elbow.
So the first round of surgery. Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex Repair (TFCC Repair) the ligament was torn,stretched, scared down over the radial head of the bone in wrist. Meaning it’s a ligament on the left side of the wrist that was looped around the right side of my wrist.
So that problem caused me to have de Quervain syndrome which was released.
The pisiform bone had been push into the end of the ulnar nerve and shredded it, and moved it to the joint space in my wrist. So that bone is no longer with me.
The elbow..I had a 3 cm neuroma another torn ligament. Partial release of the ulnar nerve.
Today I get the news that I am headed back to the OR for Cubital tunnal release, and ulnar nerve tanspositioning surgery. So surgery is scheduled for January 8, 2010.
With everything that I have done I am wondering how much pain is involved with this surgery? How was rehab? How long were you off work? Anyone have any other photos. I was so very shocked at the photos on here.
ALL AND ANY INFORMATION IS WELCOMED.
Well I went to the surgeon today, he removed the staples & prescribed PT. He said that my intermitten numbness isn’t completely unexpected due to some residule swelling. He says this should go away as time goes on.
Hi i had a ulnar nerve release done last nov. 2008 i still have numbness and some pain in the elbow.Last april 2009 the left elbow has become damaged and i just went to see surgeon and not sure just when it will be done for the waiting list is 6 to 9 months.How do you people deal with this?I use to be a forklift operator but i find with a lot of the movements i use to do well doing that job still bother me.When i had my 3rd EMG on the elbow that was repaired the numbers where not what they hoped for they dont think it will ever be the same.
Hey Roger,
How I have been able to function is a lot of Neurontin a day. Many more days of taking the beer pill as I call it. I have surgery scheduled for 1-8-10.
Hi all. I have a brief update with the hope the info may help someone. I had subcutaneous UNT at rt. elbow only on 7/21/09. 2 mos. no work at all while PT 3X week and 2x/day at home. Returned light duty after total of 3 mos. out continuing w/PT 2x/week. It has been frustratingly slow to get even minor improvement. ROM is good; minor pain (and still swelling) in rt. elbow with occasional sharp stabs. But the most frustrating is the weakness in my once dominant hand. After all this time, my strength is only about 30% of my left hand, according to strength and resistance testing. However, the surgeon says it’s “coming along” and it could take at least a year to regain the strength but there’s no guarantee it will ever be 100% again. And yes, the numbness/tingling in 4th/5th fingers is still there. But the curling up has decreased. Folks, I have done everything according to drs., work, ins. co. period. Maybe that’s the problem. From what I’ve learned, if you have to have this surgery, the sooner the better. And, incidentally, the worst version of this procedure is the submuscular UNT. Worse pain, scarring, chance of infection and longer recovery time. Again, once you have a clear case of ulnar nerve entrapment (cubital or otherwise) get it done ASAP. Hope this helps someone. Good luck all.
I had the same surgery in july 2009. Also had eight wks of pt. Had improvement up until 3 weeks ago. Some days are good and some are bad. Wondering if nerve is pinched in shoulder. Seeing the surgeon next week. It has been six months and he said it could take as long as eighteen before it comes back. I am concerned.
Hello. I’m new with this. I live in Puerto Rico and had a nerve transposition surgery on October 29th 2009. My hand is working better. I got near an 80 to 90 percent of damage on my nerve. I’m comfortable with my surgery. The tingling and the numbness reduced a lot. But I’m still feeling something. Very light but, I’m feeling something. My surgery was not sew very well. I don’t like the scar but it is worth.
What is RSD?????
Hey everyone I just have to say what a great site. Im sorry to hear so many people with nerve pain it sucks. I had bilateral cts surgery last year 2/09 then 8/09. The first was on the right side that went very well I was surprised by how fast and easy it went vertually no pain. Then I had the left side done expecting the same results because it was the same procedure by the same surgen right. Well got it done but started to notice a big difference from the right side I was having alot more pain and numbess and burning sensations in little finger and ring finger also down the fore arm to elbow. We are now in Dec/09 just saw the Dr. now I have to get ulnar surgery on left side I am very concerned because I just learned about RSD and Im wondering if this is what is going on I will update soon. Good luck everyone I know how frustrating this can be you are in my prayers.
Where did everyone go? Here is my update.
Subq and done on 6/17/2009 as well as the wrist.. RSD is finally in remission. Still having some issues with ROM, and tingling of the little nd ring finger. Sometimes still have pain in those fingers and the arm.Do not know what causes that, but gets annoying after all this time.Scars barely visible. Do feel the nerve when I hit a certain spot on arm and still have some pain at times at the elbow, the little bone. Other than that much better than I was. Takes a long time though, so have to be patient.
Hi all,
just had nerve conduction test – have a sublaxing ulnar nerve at the elbow and on flexing joint the side of my palm goes numb, but conduction test says nerve is working properly – can anyone tell me what’s going on?
Regards
Kai-Lin
HELLO EVERYONE, MY NAME IS BENNY GODINEZ. I HAVE THE ULNAR NERVE PROBLEM, IN BOTH ARMS. I WAS READING UP ON THE RESOLTS OF SERGURY, BUT DOESNT SOUND GOOD. I TEND TO HAVE THE TINGLING IN THE PINKYS, BUT SOMETHING NOT METIONED THAT I HAVE IS PAIN IN THE INNER ELBOW, WHEN I LIFT SOMETHING HEAVY, WHICH TEND TO AGGRIVATE THE NERVE. ANYONE ELSE HAVE THAT PROBLEM? NOT TO MENTION I DO HEAVY HARD LABOR EG.. GAURD RAIL, FENCE…….. THANKS, PLEASE REPOND
Benny,
I had similar symtoms, the pain in the inner elbow & numbness in the picky and ring finger. I had surgery in November, Ulnar nerve release & transposition. Took a few months of PT to regain full range of motion & strength in the elbow. Now aside from some mild discomfort at the incision site & extreemly minimal pins and needles along the outside of the pinky I think everything has healed very well. I know there are several proceedures for this problem, I had the one where they release the nerve & make a new tunnel along the underside of the arm. It leaves a nasty looking scar, but aside from that it looks like I should make a full recovery with at most retaining the minimum pins and needles I still experiance. If someonewere to ask me if I’d recomend the surgery, I’d say that if you trust your doctor & you have a good physical theropy place lined up, & you don’t mind the pain and hard work it takes after the surgery then yes I’d recomend the surgery. But again I can only recomend the proceedure I had done.
Hi everyone,
I’ve been reading here for about two months now; wish I’d joined in sooner too! I had anterior Ulnar Nerve Transposition and release of both the ulnar and median nerve at the wrist done four weeks ago . . . . don’t know what to think now. I almost wish I hadn’t have had it done. The pain is continuous, in my wrist, elbow, fingers etc. and the numbness, tingling, ‘pins and needles’, not to mention the ‘new one’ of an electrical sensation at the wrist area when I flex and extend my forearm as well as some sort of ‘popping’ at the elbow to go along with it is almost unbearable. It’s so frustrating that pain meds and Advil do not even help much. I wake up in pain sometimes in the middle of the night and always in the morning. Stiffness, burning, stinging, aching, stabbing pain . . . . take one’s pick; it’s alternating for me. This bites big time! Hope that it ends sometime soon.
Oh yeah, my doctor assured me the “popping” in my elbow is normal and is just like knuckle popping. I guess that’s why three and a half years post surgery my elbow locks up and I have to “pop” it to unlock it. Read my post about the pain. You could be suffering the same problems I did.
HELLO, IT’S BENNY AGAIN. I DID’NT HERE A RESPOSE TO IF THE PAIN IN THE INNER ELBOW, WHEN LIFTING SOMETHING? SO FAR SURGURY DOES NOT SEEM TO BE THE ANSWER! IM LOOKING IN ACCUPUNCTURE. I WAS TOLD IT CAN HELP; HAS ANYBODY TRIED IT? PLEASE RESPOND. THANKS, BENNY.
I’d look up ‘inner elbow pain’. One thing that comes up is tendinitis which is treated medically, not surgically. (could be from heavy lifting). That alone however would not explain tingling in ones’ pinkies.
I just read that sportsinjuryclinic.net is a good resourse. It’s so difficult to know for sure what’s causing the inner elbow pain and pinkie numbness. It could have been tendonitis for example and that the inflammation from that has compressed/entrapped the ulnar nerve. Hope the site helps.
My pain was minimal, but I couldn’t hold anything at arms length. I work with my hands for a living and couldn’t hold a wrench without my hand “going to sleep” and dropping whatever I was holding. I couldn’t hold a newspaper or drive without discomfort. I turned this injury in to my employer and went through 6 weeks of physical therapy. After therapy failed, the doctor decided to send me for an EMG. Where I showed major entrapment at the elbow, and wrist, as well as the median nerve trapped at the carpal tunnel. The doctor decided for laughs to test both hands and said both would need surgery as well as my left elbow. Now without saying names, my surgeon was located in Olathe KS, and thought he was God. After the surgery I my hand was in so much pain I couldn’t stand it. When the glue/sutures were removed from my elbow, I went home and that night my elbow “exploded”. The incision point had ruptured during the night from an infection and I woke up in a puddle of blood and pus. He stitched it this time and no further problems. After all the sutures were removed from both my left hand and elbow, I told the doctor something wasn’t righ, my hand still hurt and I couldn’t move my fingers at all. This is 2 weeks post surgery. At 6 weeks post surgery I couldn’t touch my thumb to my forefinger. I had my first surgery May 25 2006. I had my right hand done August of 2006 because of how long my left hand was taking. Right hand healed right up and no problems with therapy. In October 2006 I had the second surgery on my left hand to fix the muscle that was laying on the trapped ulnar nerve in my hand. The muscle wasting had left my hand looking like a skeletal version of what it had been. I finally got movement back and the pain subsided just in time for my November wedding. Three and a half years later and I still can’t feel my left pinky, outer half of my ring finger, webbed area of my thumb and from my elbow to my wrist down my forearm. I hit my “funny bone” all the time and have hit it so hard I cut my elbow open and didn’t know I was bleeding because I couldn’t feel it. I just want people to know the downside to this surgery. I did have my attorney’s doctor advise me of a nerogen wrap that can be done to aid when the surgery is done to allow healing. Definitely ask about it if having surgery on your elbow.
Jeremy,
I had the subqutaneous ulnar nerve done in elbow and also decompression in my wrist in June 2009. I had it done at Washington University in St Louis, had a great doctor. I developed RSD after the ssurgery, through no fault of the doctor. Sensitive system. Iam doing pretty well overall, have my strength back, but still some numbness in pinkie and side of the ring finger and some tightness in outer palm and wrist. Overall pretty satisfied. I had a great doctor.
Thanks for posting this, lifted my day.
Hello everyone, my name is Robert and I am 5 days away from seeing a doctor after being told I have severe ulnar nerve damage and atrophy in my left hand. I would just like to know some of the most important ???? to ask and how many people would have had the surgery now after knowing what they know about ulnar nerve neuropathy. Thanks for any help out there, Robert D.
I would most definitely have the surgery, despite knowing what I know now, and that is given that my surgery has been a complete stuff up. Firstly, ensure you have a TRUSTED surgeon, preferably a plastic surgeon or neuro surgeon. Although orthopaedic doctors are good, I personally would stay clear. I only wished I had had my surgery performed by a plastic surgeon and demanded more information prior to the surgery. I would also never suggested both arms being done in close proximity. My career is now on the line and no one wants to take a complete history or even attempt to find out what is wrong – I am placed into the “too hard” basket and my career suffers as a result. Australia may be a great country, but medically…it sucks!
I just saw my orthopedic surgeon last week at eight weeks post-op (Anterior Ulnar nerve transposition with decompression of the Ulnar nerve at the wrist also and decompression of the median nerve). He told me that my ‘popping’ IS the ‘nerve shifting’ but that it’s ‘ok, and at least not shifting back into the notch at the elbow’. When I described this over the phone to him weeks ago, he told me that it ‘sounds like a joint issue’. Dr. also told me that I need to
‘start using my left hand/arm and can now lift as much as I wish’. I told him that I’ve been using the left arm since day one despite the splinting for two weeks (not bending my arm though). He told me to ‘do anything, including push-ups! Yeah right. The pain remains significant as does the numbness and stinging at my pinkie and palm. My left arm/hand feels exactly as it did prior to surgery, now with the added extreme pain around the incisions at my palm/wrist and elbow; still edematous in areas and the muscle atrophy was Worsened SINCE surgery. Wish I hadn’t have had it done!
Marj,
I had the same surgery in June 2009. It is starting to feel better. Still get the pins and needles in pinkie,ring finger and palm and sometimes pain in the pinkie. My ROM is getting a little better, but I still have some issues. Hopefully you will get better as you go along.
I had my surgury 2/18/2010 they did a nerve block for pain. After wakeing up no pain hand numb for 12+ hours. Never had any noticable pain. Staples taken out 10 days some pain. No therapy needed. Still some numbness in pinky. I think most of the problems are the quality of the doctor. The doctor I had is considered one of the best hand surgerns. also how active was the arm before.
JIm