{"id":1336,"date":"2012-10-26T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2012-10-26T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ati.local\/?p=1336"},"modified":"2024-12-17T17:33:27","modified_gmt":"2024-12-17T17:33:27","slug":"the-other-tunnel-syndrome-cubital-tunnel-syndrome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.atipt.com\/the-other-tunnel-syndrome-cubital-tunnel-syndrome\/","title":{"rendered":"The “Other” Tunnel Syndrome: Cubital Tunnel Syndrome"},"content":{"rendered":"

Have you ever smacked your \u201cfunny bone?\u201d It\u2019s probably a safe bet to say that everyone has!<\/p>\n

However, did you know the torturesome pain you got after that smack is not really from hitting a bone at all? Rather, the culprit is the ulnar nerve.<\/p>\n

This same nerve is also the culprit in a common condition known as cubital tunnel syndrome.\u00a0 The ulnar nerve passes through a fairly unprotected area under a bony bump on the inside of the elbow. When this nerve becomes compressed between this bone and skin in a tunnel called the cubital tunnel, it can result in numbness, tingling and pain.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe see quite a few cases of cubital tunnel, as it is the second most common nerve entrapment behind carpal tunnel syndrome,\u201d says Van Huffine, certified hand therapist and VP of Operations with\u00a0ATI in Indiana.<\/a>\u00a0\u201cWhen we are evaluating a patient with an ulnar nerve disorder, the most common reported symptom is numbness and tingling at the ring and small finger. They may also show signs of hypersensitivity at the elbow with decreased use of the small muscles of the hand, leading to decreased fine motor coordination and grip strength.\u201d<\/p>\n

Van adds that this syndrome is also more common in individuals who have diabetes and hypothyroidism. And, in severe cases, you may also see wasting of the muscles in the hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cMost instances we see in the clinic setting are due to repetitive or sustained elbow motion at end ranges, sustained excessive pressure at the elbow, or a trauma injury to the elbow region,\u201d Van said.<\/p>\n

Signs and Symptoms of Cubital Tunnel Syndrome<\/h2>\n