Muscular and Nerve Disorders Forum - Ulnar nerve impact -- numb sensation ?

Conditions and Diseases > Muscular and Nerve Disorders Forum > Ulnar nerve impact -- numb sensation ?

Q: Ulnar nerve impact -- numb sensation ?

asked by: myu on September 11th, 2009

New User

I was playing tennis and had a mishap. I fell on my right side and my right elbow struck the pavement VERY hard. It felt like someone poured gasoline on the lower half of my arm and lit it on fire. I knew immediately that I had severely impacted my ulnar nerve (or "funny bone").

When I got home, I put my elbow in ice water. It was difficult to endure... the water was so cold, that I had to remove it periodically. I did that for about an hour, then took a break, repeating it a few hours later before going to sleep.

As of now, I have full mobility of my two lower fingers and full sensation on the skin. However, within the fingers and side palm there is still a kind of tingling numbness. It's not "pins and needles"... just a vague numbness. My elbow is only slightly swollen. I am not certain if I have a fracture, as I have full mobility of my arm without pain. If I press directly down on the bone, it feels OK. I do get a little sharp pain if I push from the side, though. My nerve is still swollen, as I can feel it a bit when I bend my elbow completely (I'm trying to avoid doing that so as to not interfere with the healing).

In all my research, I've not turned up anything saying that I've got a condition requiring urgent attention. It does look like I could wait this out a few days and see if the tingling is still present, then go to the hospital or local clinic for an exam.

What I'd like to know is what the usual effects are of ulnar nerve damage recovery. Is it the kind of thing that definitely takes a minimum of a few days, if not a few weeks for the numbness to go away completely if the nerve is not entrapped? If someone here has experience in this area, please post a reply here. Thanks!

Replies(3)

myu

replied on September 12th, 2009

New User

So now it is 2 days after the injury. I still feel a slight numbness in my lower two fingers at the same degree as yesterday. It appears that the nerve healing has gone as far as it will, which means I've now got a condition that requires seeing a doctor. I just hope that the impact to my elbow didn't cause severe damage and that the nerve is simply entrapped by swelling that is persisting. I will return with updates when I've got something new to report...

Nobias

replied on September 14th, 2009

New User

Hi. It definatly sounds as if the nerve in your elbow is being compressed by the swollen tissues. It is possible that the nerve itself has swollen as well.

For full recovery you should get the swelling down as soon as possible. if that does not improve things in your hand after a day or so I would recommend seeing a doctor that does Nerve Conduction testing. its somewhat painful (they shock the nerve) but it will discover exactly where the problem lies. In general you have 90 days to resolve nerve injuries (after that the chance of a permanent injury goes Way Up).

The sensation in your hand can be both Painful and have a loss of feeling at the same time. This is not contradictory.

Having this happen to me and living the results of not getting correct treatment in timely manner I would suggest that you don't just let it go or try to live with it and get a doctor to look at it ASAP.

If you wish to do more research look up 'Cubital Tunnel' Syndrome. that may not be what you have but the info is applicable and is a start.

myu

replied on September 14th, 2009

New User

Thank you very much for the reply! I am in a quandary at the moment with my health care plan. There was an administrative issue and my policy was canceled when it should not have been. So, I can't get treatment until this is rectified.

I will continue icing the elbow to reduce swelling, and take Ibuprofen. The good thing is that I am not experiencing any pain in my hand or fingers, just a slight numb sensation that is now mostly within my pinky finger. And I have full mobility of my fingers. I'll also try to avoid bending my elbow, so as not to exacerbate the inflammation.

Thanks again for the info and your testimony, and I'm sorry to hear that you've got a chronic condition from not seeking treatment earlier. They are making some good progress on nerve regenerative therapy... hopefully there will be a means of restoring your arm back to normal in the near future.

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