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Ulnar nerve compression coming back? Picture included.
I had ulnar nerve compression surgery on my left elbow in April 2006. Surgeon found alot of scar tissue and I believe moved the nerve over. I had a nerve conduction test prior to surgery. Before surgery I experienced buzzing/pulsating sensations in the palm of my hand below little, ring finger, some pain. Also pins n' needles sensation in palm below ring/little finger.After surgery the above sensations were relieved. Off and on I experience some burning in the incision area but was told it is normal, could take up to a year for the nerve to heal. Well I haven't been worried, everything seems fine.
At the beginning of January/07 I partially dislocated my little finger on the left hand twice. After the second session, which occured around the end of January, I noticed some buzzing sensations in the palm of my hand, little and ring finger,but thought it was temporary or due to injury. My finger is now healed but the buzzing/pulsating sensations have stayed in the above areas.
I am wondering if the dislocation disrupted the ulnar nerve or maybe it has nothing to do with it. My family doctor said maybe new scar tissue has formed. He is wondering if I have a double crush syndrome going on? Maybe also carpal tunnel?
After my surgery, approximately one to two months later I did have an injury to the same arm where the surgery was. Nothing broken, just bruised/sprained. But at that time no problems, no symptoms. My family doctor is sending me for another nerve conduction test, but I can't get in until June 4, 2007.
I know not to lean on my elbow or wrist but if I do the buzzing/pulsating increases. Also standing with arm on my side, increases at times also.
In the crease of my elbow (palm side up) all the way across sometimes I get a aching type pain.
The top part of my little and ring finger (when palm is facing down), I get some burning pain also.
Is burning pain common with ulnar nerve entrapment? Could I have two entrapments going on?
I included a pic I took of my hand with some lines drawn in on paint shop to give you a better idea of where my problems are. Red lines represent burning pain. Blue lines indicate area of buzzing/pulsating/pins n' needles sensations. Green line represent numbing type feeling. **Forgot to add that buzzing sensations also go into little/ring finger.**
Second pic: The forearm area off and on gets burning pain, but not everyday. Crease of elbow more common but not as frequent as hand pain.
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Ulnar nerve compression coming back? Picture included.
Anyone?? Thank you!
Answer:
Ulnar nerve compression coming back? Picture included.
Welcome to the forum canuck,
Sorry your having somuch trouble with this. Also its a shame you can't be seen until June for the nerve conduction test. I'm not the Dr. but I would tend to agree with your physician regarding scar tissue maybe, and the nerve conduction test will surely point him in the right direction in treating your symptoms. Can you see if they can maybe move the appointment up sooner perhaps, or ask you Dr. for any help in controlling your symptoms better until you are seen for this test. Good Luck and let us know.
Purple98Lady:smile: :smile:
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Ulnar nerve compression coming back? Picture included.
Hi canuck,
I had a similar problem to you in that I tore my ulnar collateral ligament playing baseball which caused my ulnar nerve to become entrapped. I had similar unpleasent sensations (including the burning pain you described) in a similar distribution as what you indicated in your photo. I had Tommy John surgery (my UCL was replaced by a tendon in my forearm) and I had my ulnar nerve moved, as well. One of the biggest problem with this surgery is the formation of scar tissue which can cause the nerve to become entrapped again and causes many baseball players to believe they have blown out their elbows again. Some baseball players have an additional surgery to release the nerve from all the scar tissue. So from my experience, sprains can cause ulnar nerve problems (as happened to me) and scar tissue can be a large contributer to nerve entrappment (as happened to Eric Gange and many other baseball players). Best of luck and keep us posted!
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Ulnar nerve compression coming back? Picture included.
Thank you both for answering my post!:smile: Well I did see my family doctor today and asked if there is any way he can speed up the date of my test. He said no and he will not refer me to a specialist/surgeon before the test. Well I guess there is nothing they can do until they find out where the compression is. There are only two places in my city that do this test and both have waiting lists.
For now I wrap a towel around my elbow to keep it straight at night and try not to lean on my elbow or wrist. Leaning on them seems to make the buzzing sensation worse.
YankeeBeckham, thank you for that information. I sort of heard that ulnar nerve compression can come back due to scar tissue. I guess scar tissue takes time to form? So you had symptoms in a similar distribution as me? I know the ulnar nerve runs up into the little and ring finger, but wasn't sure if the burning pain etc in the other areas are related to the ulnar nerve, an entirely different nerve, or if this condition just affects it all over.
Well I know there are two plastic surgeons in the city that are reputable from what I hear, so hopefully after my test I will be refered to one of them and that will likely be at least a few months or more wait.
My past surgery was done by a great surgeon, but unfortunately he retired this past summer.:crying:
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Ulnar nerve compression coming back? Picture included.
Canuck,
A lot of my pain was in the elbow itself because of the torn ligament, but I do remember having pain from my elbow down to my fingers. Everytime I threw it was sort of an electric shock from my elbow to fingers, and by the end of practice my fourth and fifth fingers were often quite numb. I do remember a sort of deep aching, burning feeling in my forearm, but that was way overshadowed by the pain in my elbow and the discomfort in my fingers. I had a lot of trouble with numbness in my fingers whenever my elbow was bent or if I leaned on it and I had trouble writing or playing guitar or anything else that required my elbow to be in that bent position. So off to surgery I went. I got a pretty sweet scar, though. Do they know why your ulnar nerve was compressed in the first place? Why was there so much scar tissue?
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Ulnar nerve compression coming back? Picture included.
YankeeBeckham, that sounds like a painful injury you had, ouch. So everthing is better now after your surgeries?
I do have a dull ache in the crease of my elbow off and on. Most of the burning pain is in my hand, mainly just below or between the middle and ring finger. Sometimes in the palm area below the little/ring finger. Most of my symptoms now seem to be numbness, tingling, buzzing, pulsating sensation in my little and part of the ring finger, and palm area below these two fingers. My prior compression I didn't have alot of pain, more buzzing sensations.
With the first compression they found alot of scar tissue. I did have some injuries to that arm, likely strains, sprains from my abusive now exbf. Before ulnar nerve compression surgery I actually had dequervain's tendonitis surgery the previous year, and my ex would purposely target my arm in his rages on purpose, called it my weak spot, so I probably developed scar tissue from the abuse.
After ulnar nerve compression surgery, in April 2006, my symptoms were better or gone. Just more recently they started, like a month ago. I still had issues with my ex after my surgery, after I left him, he assaulted me but luckily I escaped without anything too serious. My left arm/hand has sustained sprains, strains, and at least two finger fractures, few dislocations by him that I know of, medically checked. Other times injuries but never checked. Sorry I know this is personal, but it also helps to get it out of my system.
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Ulnar nerve compression coming back? Picture included.
My elbow is definetly better now; not perfect, but better. I have to be really cognizant of my throwing mechanics because if I get sloppy I'll start to feel it. Or if I throw a curve ball I can usually tell how good it was by the way my elbow feels afterwards. Sorry to hear about what you went through with your ex. I'm sure getting away from him will help you heal. With all that trauma, scar tissue is definetly a possibility. I hope you get some answers soon.
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Ulnar nerve compression coming back? Picture included.
YankeeBeckham,
I am glad your surgery turned out good for you. I guess with these types of operations, it takes awhile for the nerve, elbow to heal. Thanks, I am glad I am away from him, I would more than likely be dead now, because that is where it was heading. I will have to go to court to face him and one of his friends. Not looking forward to it, but at least justice will be done, I hope. I am on the cancellation list for the NC test, so hopefully I will get in sooner than June 4th.