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Does anyone have ulnar nerve compression?

Posted: Oct 22, 2010

I have been an MT for over 20 years and in the past three months developed shoulder pain and numbness/tingling in my pinky and ring fingers all the time to where I cannot type well any longer. Dr. said it was ulnar nerve compression and recommended surgery after conservative treatment did not help. Surgery was three weeks ago and symptoms have not improved at all. I am 54 and if I am unable to work as an MT any longer I don't know what to do. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

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have they - tried..

[ In Reply To ..]
any steroids yet to see if that helps?

ulnar nerve compression - discouraged

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Yes. A Medrol dosepak made the symptoms go completely away, but I cannot stay on them long-term. In fact, it was the only medication that made the symptoms disappear. I take Neurontin for pain which helps some.

have you tried - long time CMA

[ In Reply To ..]
anti-inflammatories? If the prednisone helped, then you might get relief with anti-inflammatories, which you can take long term. Also, have they worked up your neck. I have arthritis, stenosis, etc in my neck and when I look up, I get numbness and tingling in my index finger and thumb. It all depends on which level of the neck as to which fingers are numb. Unfortunately, if it is not nerve pain, then I really do not think that the Neurontin will help this completely. Hope you get some relief!

I disagree about long-term NSAID use (see message) - lka

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I knew a person who took them for chronic pain along with other meds and she developed end-stage renal disease. They told her it was from long-term NSAID use. In the end she required dialysis which she declined because she did not to be "tied" to a machine. The woman actually died at a pretty young age (mid-50s I believe). No drugs are good for long-term use, I repeat, NO DRUGS as they play havoc with your system. Hopefully there are some other alternatives they can help you with and/or physical therapy perhaps?

As with any medications long term - long time CMA

[ In Reply To ..]
you need to have her PCP follow it on a regular basis. They do blood work to check kidney and liver functions because of the side effects and at the first signs of any increase in these tests, you should be taken off the meds. So as long as you are monitored properly, you should be fine.

ulnar nerve compression - discouraged

[ In Reply To ..]
When I first had shoulder pain my PCP thought it was my neck so I had an MRI, NCV and EMG of my neck and both upper extremities. I then went to a neurosurgeon who walked into the treatment room and said "You have a gigantic herniation of a disc in your neck but your pain should be in the right arm and not your left arm. You need surgery to remove three discs right away because if you have a sudden impact on your neck the way it is you will risk becoming paralyzed". Needless to say I was quite taken aback and told him that I would not even be in his office were it not for the pain in my LEFT arm. He said he did not know what was causing the pain in my left arm. Since I had no symptoms due to the disc he said I had, I did not have the neck surgery. On a return visit to my PCP I saw a nurse prac. who I told my symptoms to of numbness in the pinky and ring finger and she said it was ulnar nerve from typing because she herself had it from playing a flute for years. I had that surgery but am no better. The ortho who did the surgery said the nerve was compressed when he got in that, but could take a while to calm down. This is crazy! Meanwhile I am unable to type for long periods due to this pain and numbness.

ulnar nerve - Ellie

[ In Reply To ..]
Almost a year ago I developed complete numbness in small finger, and partial numbness of the ring finger but only adjacent to my small finger. Major tingling also, even though there was no actual feeling to my fingers. Also, I could not move my pinky to meet my ring finger, and could not get my ring finger and middle fingers to come together no matter how hard I tried. MD said ulnar nerve palsy, no tx really, surgery can make condition worse or, at best, unchanged. No physical therapy, either. About a month ago I noticed I could move my fingers again and the feeling came back. Unfortunately, the process is starting all over. I had it documented because my typing speed and accuracy dropped dramatically. I finally adjusted to it, but if it is as bad this time I am taking short-term disability. Have been an MT for over 33 years and have earned it. Good luck, I know how discouraging it is.

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