Ulnar nerve entrapment can cause numbness and tingling in the little and ring fingers, elbow pain, and muscle wasting. Compression can occur at the elbow, collarbone, or wrist. Treatment may include avoiding activities that cause compression, medication, or surgery.
As with most nerves, the ulnar nerves (one on each arm) perform very important functions. These nerves run from the collarbone to the hand and control many of the muscle movements that the hands make. When ulnar nerve entrapment occurs, the compression or pressure on the nerve limits the hands’ ability to move freely and can result in other ongoing symptoms.
There are several symptoms that can result from ulnar nerve entrapment. One of its hallmarks is numbness/tingling in the little finger and in the middle of the ring finger. This feeling of “falling asleep” is not always present, but may occur more often as the condition progresses. Eventually, the ability to grasp things may also be impaired and tasks performed with the hands may be more difficult to do. Another symptom of ulnar nerve entrapment is elbow pain. This may occur because nerve compression most often occurs at the elbow. As the condition progresses, muscles can also become damaged and decrease in mass (called muscle wasting), and this can further affect the hands and the ability to use them for tasks.
Because the ulnar nerve is so long, there are a number of places on the arm where compression can occur. The most common place is the elbow, on the back side where people have their humerus bone. In fact, when people poke their goofy bone, which is very painful, they’re really making contact with the ulnar nerve. When ulnar nerve entrapment occurs in this area, bending your elbows, resting your bent arms on things like armrests, and sleeping with your arms bent often causes numbness in your little and ring fingers. Compression can also occur near the collarbone, such as from injury, or in the wrist, particularly in the section known as Guyon’s canal, which occasionally develops cysts. The exact reason for ulnar nerve compression isn’t always predictable or known in every case, although symptoms typically provide a clue as to the location of the compression.
It is possible for people without significant ulnar nerve entrapment to occasionally compress the area when they sleep or lean against something with a bent elbow for a while, but if the condition starts to occur frequently, people are advised to see a doctor . Doctors may suggest some minor measures first, such as avoiding activity when your arms are bent or making sure you keep your arms straight while sleeping. Elbow discomfort may be treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen.
Doctors may also be able to help patients understand the difference between ulnar nerve entrapment and a somewhat similar condition called carpal tunnel syndrome. This is actually median nerve entrapment, but it also causes numbness in the hands. However, the affected area is usually the thumb, index and middle fingers, when numbness is felt.
If symptoms of ulnar nerve entrapment remain unaffected, there is concern that muscle wasting may occur, and doctors may suggest surgery to open up the compressed area. Surgical interventions differ according to the area of compression. A surgical approach often resolves the problem, although it may take some time to fully recover and people may need to participate in physical therapy afterward so that full or significant use of the muscles affected by the ulnar nerve is restored.
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