Hi Robin,
I'm wondering what cased this , your job? a specific acute injury?

Some with thoracic outlet syndrome {TOS} get a clawing and wasting of the hand.
Sometimes there is a definite compression or impingement at the elbow or wrist as well as up at the upper junction {neck/shoulder/collarbone etc} - that can be a case of double crush or even triple crush if all 3 areas are involved.

I just want to mention this because some w/TOS in the past had the ulnar surgery and it did not address the proper cause of the symptoms.
Their symptoms were not really coming from the elbow they were referred pain from higher up.
Do you also have neck, shoulder or upper back pain & tightness?

If you want to read more about TOS here is our forum link -
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum24.html

Thanks all of you for you input, it is greatly appreciated.

I don't know why exactly I got to this stage, my other arm started showing symptoms, but has now made a full recovery on it's own.

However my left hand has had 'pins and needles' for about 6 years but only recently started to claw. I haven't given up on it yet and believe that with just the decompression surgery it can heal itself.

Thanks again.

Is it only your hands that have the pins and needles, and not the whole arm?
Here's a good info page that shows some basic positional tests for TOS {just in case }
http://www.nismat.org/ptcor/thoracic_outlet/
It is a condition that is often overlooked and not well known to drs - until it becomes painful and chronic.

Thanks for the links Jo, yeah.. it is just my hand... I get the odd 'stabbing' pain in my elbow, but nothing that stops me from doing anything.

I went to a physio and they determined it was not an issue with the nerve getting trapped in my upper spine. Every now and then I get a light 'throbbing' about 2-3 inches below my elbow, which makes me think that is where the problem lies.

Thanks again Jo... as I said before, the more information the better. I get a feeling that the UK health system is running on information that they learnt while training in the 80's!

I mentioned 'methycobalamine' and 'benfotiamin' to 4 consultants and 1 doctor.

All gave me the same response... "Never heard of that!"

RobinM

Good luck on what you do for your nerve pain problem as I fully understand how painful having any nerve work done can be. Mine is not the same nerve as yours but I have been living with nerve pain throughout my right arm for almost 4 years now. As others have said take the time to find the very best Dr. in your area.