Ulnar Neuropathy -- Treatment? Experience with it?
 

Was just diagnosed with a case of ulnar neuropathy. An EMG indicated.

Anyone treat this with success? How did you eliminate the problem?

I've had severe elbow pain for three weeks and have been taking 1800mg of Neurontin daily. The Neurontin helps take the edge off but it still hurts and has me avoiding certain movements (i.e. bending my arm).

Wondering if there is specific therapy for ulnar neuropathy. I've heard of "nerve glides."

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Ky

We have nerve glides in our Useful stickys on the Thoracic outlet syndrome forum.
here- post #8 & # 51 - it might be good to read some of the other info there - just in case it might fit for you.
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread84.html

Could you have some sort of a repetitive motion injury to cause the elbow pain?

There are PT modalities like massage , heat, ice, and ultrasound that should help. These will help with healing and a good PT is always best.

The meds do not help with healing they only work to suppress the pain.

Jo Mar,

Thanks I'll take a look.

I'm pretty sure that a repetitive strain injury is what set many things in motion. I've had shoulder pain for over a year. I'm pretty sure the same routine with heavy lifting did my shoulder in. I then spent 8 months trying to rehab this shoulder injury. I'm wondering if two exercises here are the culprit:

* Internal rotation (with bands or cables)
* External rotation

I've literally done thousands of repetitions. In either exercise, my arm is bent at the elbow.

Only other thing I can think of is bicep curls.

Neurologist also ruled out carpel tunnel...and I'm a professional who works on a computer...and unfortunately has lousy ergonomics.

Is there a typical time period where this type of issue resolves?

My ulnar neuropathy was characterized as "mild."

Thanks.

KY

hmmm, you probably need to read more on the whole Thoracic outlet forum, it sounds like the syndrome might be a fit for your problems.

many w/TOS have symptoms & pain increase with those band type therapies/exercises.

Well, I've mentioned TOS and almost the second it comes out of my mouth two different neurologists and an ortho said, "You don't have it."

The cause of this is curious. Usually this comes on gradually. 3-4 weeks ago I just woke up one morning with this. Odd. The neuro indicated that this can happen, but it usually comes on more gradually.

I just want to do what I can to get rid of this via PT, stretching, whatever.

KY

Well, all I can say about that is , so many with TOS or the start of TOS or a TOS like condition....have gotten the run around from many MDs -until it has gotten to a serous & chronic point.:(

I say better to assume for yourself that it possibly could be TOS or TOS like and make changes now in posture, ergonomics, body uses.
There are plenty of info & videos for all of these things you can do for yourself on our TOS sticky threads and in posts on the forum there.

Many Drs - esp orthos for some reason..will not even mention it or bring the possibility up. They most likely are not educated on possible factors & causes.

Many MDs believe it is over dx'd or under dx'd they can't even agree among themselves, it is a very tricky dx.
Or perhaps they are jumping to the idea of surgery ?
I sure don't suggest that as a next step.


Actually advanced PTs that will do the positional testing will have a better overall picture and with the help of a detailed work & other injuries/accidents history by you so they get the full picture.


I thought my ulnar problem was mild as I didn't take any pain meds for it.
I think if you need pain meds it is more than mild?:confused:

I had previous RSIs, shoulder strains, neck strain and hyper mobile joints so I was a candidate for RSI/TOS - no MD or PT ever mentioned anything about it to me at all - In the many times I was injured and did go to PT.

Only the very first Dr that I had a one time visit with mentioned that my injury could be a chronic thing - and back then in 1999 -I didn't take it seriously. but he was right after 12 more yrs on the job (assembly w/speed/gripping/twisting /reaching etc )- it came true.

Jo Mar,

You are right on a "mild" case of ulnar neuropathy when my pain is more than mild!

I'm seeing two different neurologists next Tuesday to discuss all results. They've done the no brainer tests at this point:

* MRI Brachial Plexus -- Nothing.
* Blood Work -- Nothing
* EMG -- mild case UN

What I'd like to do is push for is more evidence that my UN is NOT linked to my shoulder/armpit pain. This seems to be the key. If they are not linked then it's possible that I have both a shoulder pathology AND an ulnar neuropathy. Would be quite a coincidence. If they are linked, I think there's a greater likelyhood that I have some kind of TOS type condition.

So, understanding the above, what diagnostic and physical exam tests would you push for?

I think this is super critical. I need help with this. I don't want some lame explanation. I want tests. Proof.

I've got to say, there are a lot of TOS symptoms I just don't have. Not even close. But who knows, maybe I'm in the early stages...which makes diagnosis even harder.

Any help on what tests to push for would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Ky