How do I know if I have Cubital Tunnel Syndrome?

The ulnar nerve is one of the key nerves that comes from the cervical spine that innervates the tissues in the medial arm. Often times the ulnar nerve can get pinched or entrapped right at the inside of the elbow. Ulnar nerve entrapment, or cubital tunnel syndrome, can be an annoying and debilitating condition. Often described as feeling pins and needles, numbness, shooting pain, and even decreased strength and coordination. Cubital tunnel syndrome is not only something chiropractors often work on, it is a condition the doctors at Gallatin Valley Chiropractic have great success with.

What is Cubital Tunnel Syndrome?

Cubital tunnel syndrome is by definition a neurological condition that occurs when the ulnar nerve becomes irritation from an increase in pressure right at what is called the cubital tunnel. The cubital tunnel is an actual tunnel the ulnar nerve passes through that is formed by the bones of the elbow joint. We have all bumped our "funny bone" causing our hand to go numb, that is actually a form of acute cubital tunnel syndrome.

Symptoms of Cubital Tunnel Syndrome may include:

• Pins and needles/ numbness: Pins and needles or 'paresthesia' is one of the most common symptoms patients with cubital tunnel syndrome experience. How we differentiate this from other neurologic conditions is that with cubital tunnel syndrome the numbness, tingling, or pins and needles goes to the pinky and ring finger.
• Weakness: With the nerve being entrapped, weakness can also occur. The doctors at Gallatin Valley Chiropractic are able to test this by doing orthopedic tests such as the pinch test.
• Pain: Pain is an obvious one, with nerve entrapment comes irritation, with irritation comes inflammation. All of which can contribute to pain.

How Can Chiropractors at Gallatin Valley Chiropractic Help?

Chiropractors at Gallatin Valley Chiropractic are highly trained healthcare professionals who specialize in musculoskeletal and neurological conditions. While chiropractic care is often associated with spinal adjustments, chiropractors can also provide effective care for peripheral nerve entrapments like cubital tunnel syndrome. Here's how chiropractic care can help:

1. Accurate Diagnosis: Chiropractors can perform a thorough examination including a number of different orthopedic tests to confirm the correct diagnosis as well as assess how severe the neuropathy is.
2. Non-Invasive Treatments: Chiropractic care includes manual manipulation of the joint to ensure proper biomechanics, myofascial work to improve movement of the tissues surrounding the cubital tunnel as well as prescribing exercises and stretches for the patient to do to further improve the integrity of the nerve.
3. Rehabilitation and Exercises: There are a lot of home exercises and stretches patients can do to avoid further exacerbating and helping their cubital tunnel syndrome. Additionally providing workplace and home instructions to improve their ergonomic setup that could be potentially contributing to the condition.
4. Holistic Approach: Chiropractic care is a holistic, safe approach to managing your aches and pains. Countless times the doctors at Gallatin Valley Chiropractic have helped patients avoid surgeries and injections by allowing the body to heal itself via chiropractic care.

If you or someone you know is having elbow or any other joint pain, Gallatin Valley Chiropractic is a great place to start your road to recovery. We will focus on getting the most accurate diagnosis and giving an honest and educated proposal for future care.