Ulnar Nerve Entrapment / Cubital Tunnel

[ampire]

I saw an orthopedist specializing in this particular ailment and they believe I likely have this in both arms based upon physical examination, I am waiting to do an EMG/nerve study. I am expecting surgery will be necessary because I have a lot of atrophy and weakness in my hands now and my forearms and elbow hurt like hell all the time. Have any of you had an ulnar nerve transposition for cubital tunnel? What was recovery like and was it successful at treating this issue? I haven't done any rowing in about a month, just been biking on a recumbent stationary bike. I've been sleeping in arm braces to prevent bending the arm at night. What is worrisome is the thing seems to be getting worse in spite of my attempts to avoid it.

[Dutch]

Sorry to here this ampire, are you taking any anti inflamatories for it? They have been know to alleviate it a bit over time.

[ampire]

I've been taking ibuprofen 200mg, 3-4 per day, and its helped though I am concerned about long term effects on my health from NSAIDs. This thing walloped me pretty hard, I had some issues in my forearms and hands for some time but it wasn't debilitating like this. Suddenly, beginning of September, a few bad workouts with it and in the span of a week it became a major ongoing problem. It was right as I was finally starting to hold 200W at R20 comfortably for good periods of time, I think all that repetitive force through my forearms didn't help. I've lost probably an inch in circumference in my arms, the strength loss has been pretty striking.

[max_ratcliffe]

Sorry to hear this amp. I hope you manage to get this sorted without needing to go under the knife. Good luck with it all and good to see you back here firing on all cylinders when it is sorted.

[mromero680]

I had what I think is a similar issue, commonly called "golfers elbow". It bothered me for quite a while one rowing season. I attribute it to overdoing intervals before building a good base but I'm not really sure why it only flared up once for months. I tried ice and heat and ibuprofen but I don't remember anything being a miracle cure other than time.

[Dutch]

Velcro elbow brace may help or 2 compression bandages. The support from the compression really does alleviate pain. And it is only time that does help this type of injury/ condition heal, as has been said already.

[simonpcroot]

I have the same issue see my post today
I am booked for surgery soon

[Cant Climb]

You guys getting surgery, wow.
I've had the same problem, total numbness, can't sleep.

This has helped me more than anything, just run forearm between those wheels, can feel pressure release -

]https://rollrecovery.com/?gclid=CjwKCAj ... XMQAvD_BwE



And of course -

https://www.amazon.com/BraceAbility-Ent ... B07CJTRPL3

But i think the Roll Recovery device is the key for me.

[ampire]

Sorry to hear it is afflicting others but also feel validated that it can occur from rowing. I have done a few things to reduce this while I have been waiting for an EMG. Overall the intensity is much less, the burning in my forearm and elbow is not nearly what it was, though I feel a lot of weakness in my 4th and 5th digits.

1. I've been sleeping with arm braces and that helped tremendously.
2. I've been limiting computer use and being careful with resting my arm on the desk in a manner that limits the nerve irritation when writing.
3. I started using a roller briefcase rather than a backpack because I suspect that the weight of the bag might irritate the brachial plexus.
4. I've continued to use the recumbent bike rather than the rower.
5. Still using 3 to 4 NSAID (ibuprofen 200mg) per day.

[ampire]

I'm having surgery on the right arm in one month, and I will likely get the left arm after that. The left arm is a lot worse, but I am right handed, and I need a functional right arm right now. The surgeon said he'd do a decompression probably, but he is prepared to transpose the ulnar nerve under muscle during the surgery, I suppose depending on how it presents.

[jackarabit]

I had laparoscopic surgery to release the ulnar nerve in left elbow March 2016. I had attended a five day OTW training camp in VA. (USA) the previous July where I managed to create an overuse injury on the second day which caused considerable swelling of the left hand. I stuck with the twice-daily sessions and iced hand every nite. I continued erging thru the fall but the swelling and inflammation persisted. By November, I was losing muscle tissue in my hand and the knuckles of middle thru little fingers appeared to be shifting about. I did not have pain in the elbow? The orthopedist gave me two shots of cortisone and scheduled the neurology tests and then the procedure which was successful and without complications. I went back to the rower second week after. I mentioned it on this forum and our Dutch uncle, hjs, commented that it didn't seem like much of a problem. (Chronic back pain can make the other guy’s mishap appear minor compared to one’s own.)

I did my rehab exercises and rowing took care of rebuilding muscle in the hand. But I traded the hand injury and nerve entrapment for pain inside the elbow and intermittent lockup of the joint such that I couldn’t straiten my arm without discomfort. Last flareup was in winter/spring of 2019. The obvious course was to reduce rowing volume and consecutive active days. Your situation is at least 2x as complicated and annoying but I think you will come thru fine. I read way too much ancient (medical) lit. prior to the op and got agitated about the possibility of a failed procedure and surgical revision. I was told at the time that these procedures, if not quite fool proofed, are by and large successful, promising “full use of gun” as we used to say on the skeet range.

[ampire]

I had laparoscopic surgery to release the ulnar nerve in left elbow March 2016. I had attended a five day OTW training camp in VA. (USA) the previous July where I managed to create an overuse injury on the second day which caused considerable swelling of the left hand. I stuck with the twice-daily sessions and iced hand every nite. I continued erging thru the fall but the swelling and inflammation persisted. By November, I was losing muscle tissue in my hand and the knuckles of middle thru little fingers appeared to be shifting about. I did not have pain in the elbow? The orthopedist gave me two shots of cortisone and scheduled the neurology tests and then the procedure which was successful and without complications. I went back to the rower second week after. I mentioned it on this forum and our Dutch uncle, hjs, commented that it didn't seem like much of a problem. (Chronic back pain can make the other guy’s mishap appear minor compared to one’s own.)

I did my rehab exercises and rowing took care of rebuilding muscle in the hand. But I traded the hand injury and nerve entrapment for pain inside the elbow and intermittent lockup of the joint such that I couldn’t straiten my arm without discomfort. Last flareup was in winter/spring of 2019. The obvious course was to reduce rowing volume and consecutive active days. Your situation is at least 2x as complicated and annoying but I think you will come thru fine. I read way too much ancient (medical) lit. prior to the op and got agitated about the possibility of a failed procedure and surgical revision. I was told at the time that these procedures, if not quite fool proofed, are by and large successful, promising “full use of gun” as we used to say on the skeet range.

Thank you for the information. Similarly, I am also quite stressed about the procedure but hopefully it comes out okay. I think it is likely he will perform the ulnar nerve transposition based. Personally, that is what I am hoping he will do because I think it will give a better longer term result. I am not thinking I will be rowing until Summer at this rate any way.

Regarding chronic back pain versus peripheral nerve pain, I've had both. Both can be extremely distressing. My back pain was caused by a spinal cord tumor and it was utterly debilitating for several years until I had surgery for it.

The nerve pain I have had in my arms the past couple months has been pretty wicked. Functionally, it hasn't been as debilitating because it is only affecting a portion of my body rather than 3/4 of my body, but at its worst, it can be similarly emotionally distressing and has resulted in a lot of lost sleep.

There really isn't a bottom level to pain, it can always be worse than what you, or I, or anyone else has experienced. There is no purpose in having a worse pain contest with someone else, it's bad, it can be worse, it can be better; that's how it is.

[max_ratcliffe]

Gaah. Only just spotted this thread. This is rotten luck Amp.

All the best for successful surgery and a quick recovery.

[ampire]

I have this procedure scheduled for next week, feeling pretty stressed out about it. I hope I can row again or lift weights again in the future afterwards. Of course, as it stands now I can't do either anyway.

[Dangerscouse]

I have this procedure scheduled for next week, feeling pretty stressed out about it. I hope I can row again or lift weights again in the future afterwards. Of course, as it stands now I can't do either anyway.

Best wishes for the op and your recovery.