• Keep up to date with Ausbb via Twitter and Facebook. Please add us!
  • Join the Ausbb - Australian BodyBuilding forum

    If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact contact us.

    The Ausbb - Australian BodyBuilding forum is dedicated to no nonsense muscle and strength building. If you need advice that works, you have come to the right place. This forum focuses on building strength and muscle using the basics. You will also find that the Ausbb- Australian Bodybuilding Forum stresses encouragement and respect. Trolls and name calling are not allowed here. No matter what your personal goals are, you will be given effective advice that produces results.

    Please consider registering. It takes 30 seconds, and will allow you to get the most out of the forum.

Ulnar Nerve Injury

B

bob23

New member
This injury occurred about 3 months ago and is still bugging me.

When I first injured it, my pinky and ring finger would tingle every now and then throughout the day and at night. I rested it and the tingling throughout the day vanished.

However, whenever I sleep I always wake up with these two fingers tinglng. Even when I talk on the phone with my elbow bent for 10 minutes it will start they will start to tingle. When I straighten the arm the tingling goes away though.

Has anybody had this before? I'm getting some nerve tests done next week but I'm not sure if I should be working or playing sport as they both require me to bend my arms.
 
Impingement syndrome.

Go see a sports dr, physio or osteopath..

You might have bursitis or supraspuinatis oedema causing impingement.
 
Thanks for the reply mate. I've seen a physio and they told me to take anti inflammatory and try not to sleep with my elbow bent.

Is this a serious condition whatever the cause? I just don't want to spend a whole day at work or go to footy training if it can become serious.
 
I wake up sometimes with this in my hands/fingers .. I was under the assumption it was lack of blood flow to the area .. ?
 
I'm fairly certain its Cubital Tunnel Syndrome, although out of the Physio's, Chiro and GP I have seen none of them have mentioned it.

The symptoms ONLY occur when I keep my elbow bent for extended periods, so surely it can't be too serious can it? I'm just hoping there is no nerve damage or anything
 
Yeah not sure mate. I'd say if it was nerve damage you would know about it.. This is from my training log, been dealing with nerve problem for the last few months (check out the muscle wastage).

6668d1358158137-azz-gym-track-log-faaaak.jpg
 
Something is going on with my Brachial Plexus. So the nerve that sends signals to my arm/shoulder is playing up.

(The doctor's/phyio's haven't actually given me an exact diagnosis).
 
I had some nerve conduction tests done and it turns out that the nerves in my elbows are slightly compressed. I was told it is very minor and as long as I keep my arms straight while sleeping it should heal.

Its been a few weeks now and isn't getting better.

Is there any sort of brace/splint I could use to keep my arms straight at night?
 
you could use a rolled up magazine or newspaper tied loosely to the arms with cotton bandage.. or dowel, sticks.. anything really...

Going to be uncomfortable as all shit though.
 
Yeah it will be very uncomfortable I'd imagine, thanks for the suggestion though.

Are there any official elbow braces or something for this specific condition? I'm pretty sure its Cubital Tunnel Syndrome.

The Physio's I have been to haven't really suggested splinting it, only my GP did.
 
WarbyD said:
athletic-brace | 348-Elbow-pad | Treatment - Cubital-Tunnel Discussion Forums

A whole site dedicated to the condition, and a thread about exactly what you want to know ;)
Click to expand...

Thanks mate.

I'm not sure exactly what sort of brace one of the users is describing, and the link that one of them provided is a brace that I'm not sure can be purchased in Australia.

Looking on the Australian websites there doesn't seem to be anything to suit my needs :(

I'm also losing faith in the physio's that I have been to. I've seen about 3 different ones, and not one has suggested that I have cubital tunnel and need to splint my arms. They seem to have very little knowledge about a condition like this.
 
Cubitus Fossa / Elbow Splint | Pelican Manufacturing
^ $50, looks uncomfortable as all hell but should work

http://www.surgicalsynergies.com.au/pdf/tensowrap_elbow_splint.pdf
^ instructions for making something that would work - modify as appropriate depending on what you have available

Honestly if it were me, the first thing I'd be doing is splinting it with a tightly rolled up t-shirt or towel, secured to the arm with a few wraps of cotton bandage. This should provide you with a splint that has enough give in it to not be stupidly uncomfortable but still do a reasonable job of maintaining a neutral elbow position while you sleep. If that made a difference to my over all pain/comfort levels, then i would look into a more professional option - I would definitely also be asking my GP for a referral to a hand specialist (not sure what they're called haha) to discuss treatment options.
 
I should probably note here too.. I'm not a doctor, or a physio or anything similar.. I have Masters in Occupational Health, Safety & Ergonomics and I work in OH&S. Obviously, I have a "professional interest" in injury prevention and treatment, and the ergonomics part of my education required a lot of focus on the musculoskeletal system which fascinated me, hence why this piqued my interest.. So, take my "advice" with a heavy dosing of salt ;)
 
WarbyD said:
Cubitus Fossa / Elbow Splint | Pelican Manufacturing
^ $50, looks uncomfortable as all hell but should work

http://www.surgicalsynergies.com.au/pdf/tensowrap_elbow_splint.pdf
^ instructions for making something that would work - modify as appropriate depending on what you have available

Honestly if it were me, the first thing I'd be doing is splinting it with a tightly rolled up t-shirt or towel, secured to the arm with a few wraps of cotton bandage. This should provide you with a splint that has enough give in it to not be stupidly uncomfortable but still do a reasonable job of maintaining a neutral elbow position while you sleep. If that made a difference to my over all pain/comfort levels, then i would look into a more professional option - I would definitely also be asking my GP for a referral to a hand specialist (not sure what they're called haha) to discuss treatment options.
Click to expand...

Thanks for finding all those links mate, very helpful!

I might try a towel for a while. I'll start off by wrapping one arm tonight to see how it goes.
 
I am still struggling with this problem.

I have tried splinting my arm at night and its very uncomfortable, plus the splints I have aren't great. A towel takes ages to wrap around my elbow and secure it properly.

Should I go to another GP for a second opinion? The only good thing is the condition does not seem to be getting worse, I have no muscle weakness and the pins and needles still only occur when my elbow is bent for long periods. Straighten my arm normally instantly removes the pins and needles.
 
Apologies for the triple post, but its better than starting a new thread.

Does anybody know of any good physio's in melbourne? The ones I have been to seem to have no knowledge of the condition really.

The GP I went to for a second opinion said the tingling and pins and needles when my elbow is bent for extended periods will not go away unless I get surgery. Most information I have viewed is that the condition does improve and get back to normal if I stop aggravating it, especially at night time.

I'm still looking for a comfortable night time splint, most elbow braces do not work as a splint so its hard to find an appropriate one.

Anymore advice or opinions on my condition would be greatly appreciated. I'm trying to get into a neurosurgeon but it could take 6 months or more because my condition is not in a serious stage, yet.....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top