Hi. I am new to the forum and I am hoping someone can help me. A few weeks I started off with trigger finger (left hand / non dominant/ pinkie finger). After over 2 weeks it was exactly the same, I went to see my doctor. She had a feel of the palm of my hand and said she could feel thickening of the tendons in my left palm but under my middle finger and said I had carpal tunnel syndrome. I have been referred to a consultant (5 months wait) and advised me to get an over the counter brace in the meantime.

I googled carpal tunnel syndrome when I got home but the symptoms I found aren’t what I have. I currently have a burning sensation in the palm of my hand, also at the base of my palm, near my wrist underneath my pinkie finger. The edge of my palm running down from my pinkie finger, has a tingling sensation at times and the tip of my pinkie finger also goes numb at times. I also have a “sore” feeling down my arm, and my elbow also feels sore at times too. Also my middle finger hurts when I bend it.

I was speaking to someone who was asking how I was, and I told her I had carpal tunnel syndrome, and explained how it felt. At that point she said she thinks I have Cubital Tunnel syndrome as she felt like that when she had it.

I did buy a brace for carpal tunnel syndrome initially. I now don’t know what to do. I don’t want to wear something if it’s wrong and could do me more damage.

Can anyone suggest something that I could do to try and ease the pain/symptoms, or anything I can buy, but that wouldn’t do me more harm if I’m treating the wrong thing.

Sorry for the long post, but I’m at my wits end and can’t bear the thought of going through another 5 months like this.

Explore the sticky threads on this page. Similar symptoms and things to try.
https://www.neurotalk.org/thoracic-outlet-syndrome/

Welcome Eurobuff. Maybe this will help.

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome | Cedars-Sinai

Hi and welcome to the NeuroTalk Support Groups.

I had some episodes about 15 years ago of cubital tunnel syndrome or tennis elbow as people used to call it.

In fact it was one of the main reasons I downsized my massive book collection because every time I moved I ended up with irritated or damaged nerve in my elbow due to picking up heavy boxes.

In my case it was my left arm and the fingers affected were the little finger and 1/2 of the ring finger. When the nerve in my elbow was irritated or inflamed, my little finger and ring finger would form a claw. Meaning they would contract inwards onto the palm and stay contracted until I was able to stretch the arm out. I also had really bad pain in the elbow. They would also become weaker and sometimes numb feeling.

My GP told me to wear a brace especially when sleeping, but the brace was very large and very cumbersome and in the end it was suggested to me that bracing my elbow was really not the right thing to do. I used to do stretching exercizes. If it does turn out to be the ulnar nerve that is affected then you could find out more about those from a physio or even online.

This is just my experience and it was a long time ago but it's important that you find out exactly what is going on.

If you check in Images on your search e ngine then you can find pictures of the tracks that the nerves make both through the cubital and through the carpal tunnels. Just use search terms like "nerves to fingers cubital tunnel" or similar, like "Ulnar nerve entrapment".

If your doctor isn't helping then maybe get in to see a physio.

Thank you. I need to do some googling. I have been referred for physio as well which is a 6 month wait. My symptoms seem to have worsened and my whole hand has been numb for the last 2 days. I have tried to speak to my doctor who referred me to see if they can speed up my wait, but they initially said that I could try and speak to them, but naturally they take instructions from doctors and not a patient. I am in the U.K. and (due to Covid) they only do face to face appointments if it can’t be done over the phone but the problem has to be emailed to them first for them to assess! Hopefully if I try the exercises it won’t do any harm if I have been misdiagnosed

Handcare from American Society for Surgery of the Hand
This is easy to read info. and explores some differential diagnoses for numbness of the hands.
Numbness in Hands: Causes & Treatment | The Hand Society


It is concerning that it is now your whole hand that is affected. Hopefully you get that appointment sooner than later.

Check out the Repetitive Strain Injury Sub-Forum

Edited to add a couple of things... Jomar suggested the TOS forum here. There is information in that as well.

and particularly the "Sticky" Thread there. Lots and lots of information. Look for stretches and tips for relief.

Here's the Search Feature
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome forum is listed above in Post #2 from Jomar.

Try a search in RSI and also Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Forum for specific keywords e.g. I just used "numb hand".