r/CubitalTunnel

This is probably one of the most frustrating points since the operation.

My arm doesn’t feel pain as a default which is so insanely nice after over a year of that, but whilst I can do very light holding for a short period, I can’t make a lifting motion with any weight and tbh I’m still feeling useless because I’m trying to “test my limits” with really minor stuff but it’s just wiping my arm out for hours or all day and bringing that lovely ache back. I can move it fine do the PT etc, I just can’t fully straighten it or do anything of value.

Just need to come in here and complain every now and then because I feel like no one fully appreciates how shit this is from start to finish unless they’ve had it.

I knew this was going to be a long recovery but I was kinda hoping I would be feeling a bit more normal by this stage.

Hi everyone, I have a nerve conduction test in July (can’t get it sooner) my right hand has been suffering. Weak and when typing my pinky/hand is shaky. I’m thinking it might be Cubital tunnel syndrome. Been experiencing symptoms since late March of this year. Could use some advice on how to recover faster cs it’s impacting my daily functioning and work

Hi. I have an appointment tomorrow to address ongoing symptoms and I was just wondering what you guys think I should ask. I don't actually know if what I have is cubital or ulnar or something else but Google searches keep pointing me towards nerve compression.

Symptoms:

This is all happening on my left arm:

On and off elbow pain for months. Icing it usually got rid of it

However, elbow pain got significantly worse about three weeks ago to the point it wouldn't let me sleep hence why I finally made an appointment.

Tingling on fingers and side of the hand.

Twitching on pinky finger and sometimes my thumb.

A tremor on my thumb.

Wrist pain sometimes but not as bad as the elbow.

Shoulder pain sometimes, but again not as bad as the elbow.

I wonder if the wrist and shoulder pains are cause I'm compensating for the now near constant elbow pain.

I don't seem to have trouble gripping stuff or reaching out for stuff. However the pain seems to get worse when I'm typing (I have an office job) or just sitting at a desk doing other tasks. Once I stand up the pain seems to subside a bit.

Anyway any thoughts or insight would be greatly appreciated. I really want my doctor to listen to me...

So I have a slightly different situation then most here but theres no other place with anything similar so here I am. I injured my elbow in a car accident in 2023. It took a while to get it figured out but I had a large ganglion cyst coming from the elbow joint, pushing up on my radial nerve, giving me hand weakness and tremors. I had the cyst removed in November of 2025 (and open carpal tunnel surgery on the same hand) and had great relief from the weakness and hand tremors for about 6 weeks. The tremors came back and imaging confirmed what we suspected, that the ganglion cyst grew back. I saw my surgeon yesterday and he is going to do a more aggressive resection and "move the radial nerve" so if the cyst does grow back, its not pushing the nerve into my brachiaradialis muscle. He then said I would need my arm immobilized for 2 weeks post op. Of course its my dominant arm.

Anyway the whole "moving the nerve" thing kinda freaks me out but it seems relatively common in the world of cubital tunnel syndrome. Can you guys tell me stories about this? Is it painful? Is it a tough recovery? Im planning on having the surgery on June 18th and then going on a trip for my work on July 5th for 5 days with 27 kids. Im kinda stuck because I also need a cervical fusion which i'll be doing once I get back from the trip. The first surgery was fine, I was out of work for like 4 days but i'm definitely concerned about the moving the nerve portion. Thanks!

I have started wearing a brace on my left arm at night, but am conscious that if I still sleep on my right side, my right arm is bent all night under the pillow and I don't want to get CTS on that arm as well. But sleeping on your back all night is uncomfortable

Who have you all seen?

I feel like the default is a hand & wrist surgeon.

Peripheral Nerve Surgeon might be better? What are everyone's thoughts?

Got blood test results back from a rheumatologist claiming they see no arthritis or inflammation and that points towards nerve related, I only went to them because 2 orthopedics in a row blew me off making it sound like it wasn’t anything going on all because a emg and neck mri were negative in the beginning, now 9 months later the shit is still going on with sore finger tips, bee sting feeling in the median nerve location, fingers catching sometimes when bent. aching on all parts of the elbow. beyond over all of this

Hi guys, so I have a history of left-sided scapular winging and mild scoliosis, with my left shoulder sitting slightly lower than my right. Recently, I’ve been experiencing worsening symptoms involving my left arm and hand, especially during or after a push/pull workout, and particularly tricep, shoulder and chest workouts (whenever my elbow is fully extended I get like a burning/tingling kind of sensation down my arm)

My left forearm feels weak and heavy, especially around the elbow area, and my tricep also appears weaker or visibly smaller compared to the other side. My left grip strength is like 10-fold worse than my right. My whole arm in particular is weaker than my right and looks much smaller.

At times, my hand seems to “clamp” or curl inward involuntarily, especially affecting the ring finger and pinky side.

When I try to fully open my hand and spread my fingers apart, I have difficulty bringing some of the fingers back together properly, particularly involving the pinky and thumb/ring finger coordination. I’ve also noticed reduced fine motor control — for example, using chopsticks has become more difficult recently.

The symptoms feel more like weakness/heaviness and loss of coordination rather than just pain.But lately my elbow feels very achey and kinda painful.

Also at night, often my triceps muscle like twitches.

I have an EMG referral but since I’m in Canada it might be like months. I was just wondering if anyone had any advice or know anything I can do for now. Or how I can continue weight lifting etc. thankyou guys 😊

Anyone here just dealing with subluxation? my doctor says my symptoms are too new and mild for surgery, and only recommend being mindful of how I bend my elbow :/

With that being said, anyone still going to the gym with subluxation?

For about 7 months now i’ve been experiencing pressure, numbness, tingliness, shocking pains, and burning on my right and left hands the typical spots being the inner elbow and pinky and ring finger its rare but sometimes I feel this in my middle finger or upper back and shoulder. In my left hand i’ve also began to develop carpal tunnel symptoms. The doctors said they have found an Anceous Epitrochlearis muscle in my inner elbow which is a rare accessory muscle and its been giving me cubital tunnel symptoms due to my compressing my nerve at the elbow. I’ve been presented with two surgical options after therapy didnt help either decompression or ulnar nerve transposition and I am so not entirely sure which type just yet whether its subcutaneous, submusuclar, etc. Some things about me is I work out regularly, lift weights, play basketball, draw, play piano, and guitar and would love to keep doing these things especially play instruments so surgery is a big fear for me as I am afraid scar tissue could develop or some other issues could arise with or after surgery stopping me from doing the things I love or just my daily lifestyle. So please any information is much appreciated I hope someone out there relates to this and realizes they’re not alone if anyone has any questions feel free to ask and please give me any advice or information you think would be helpful. Thank you so much.

It's confirmed by EMG as mild cubital.

I don't get numbness. It's mostly forearm pain/some elbow pain and sometimes light pinky pain.

I haven't been able to rest on forearms on anything for months.

I want to hold a controller and play games but I can't do that. I've tried obliviously not resting my forearm on anything and it's the same problem.

Any tips please? How do you modify your activities in general plus my controller issue?

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I'm dealing with bilateral cubital tunnel while living alone. Numbness/tingling, weakness, and constant pain have contributed to general discouragement. I am also unable to do my usual hobbies to distract myself.

I sleep in braces, ice regularly, have a modified work setup, and do nerve glides. I have a nerve test at the end of the month that will hopefully tell me more.

In the meantime, does anyone have tips for daily stuff like cooking, cleaning, groceries, and carrying things without flaring both elbows? Good braces, adaptive tools, or what helped you with bilateral issues?

Thanks!

Some days it’ll ache and hurt in the little groove the nerve goes through, others it’ll feel like golfers elbow, other days it’ll feel like tennis elbow. I don’t understand 😑

Surgical plan: R cubital tunnel release, R carpal tunnel release, R
guyon's
3 hours
canal release, R AIN to ulnar nerve transfer
Need micro instruments, tisseal, 8-0 nylon, checkpoint nerve stim

EMG confirmed right ulnar neuropathy at the elbow. Two surgeons are recommending a cortisone injection before surgery to help isolate how much is cubital tunnel vs TOS.

My hesitation — I have hypermobile EDS and I'm 6'1", 150 lbs with basically no soft tissue buffer around that elbow. Worried about fat pad atrophy and tissue thinning around an already superficial nerve.

Both doctors say the risk is low. I get their reasoning. Still nervous.

Anyone with EDS, hypermobility, or very low body fat had this injection? Any tissue reactions? And did it actually give you useful info after an already positive EMG?

I had my cubital tunnel decompression surgery about a month and a half ago. Im still experiencing numbness and really sharp pains in my arm to the point where I can't move my arm very well. Was wondering if it was normal or not and whether I should bring it up in my follow up appointment to my gp and surgeon