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Post Ulnar Transposition and Decompression but still have pain

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Posted 6/24/2013 4:33 AM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone.  I'm hoping for some advise from those how have had a ulnar transposition and how they have coped , how fast they recovered ect..

I injuried my ulnar nerve in May 2011.  I hit the ulnar just behind the point of the elbow.  Massive swelling of elbow, and then the pain started a few days afterward as well as numbness in pinkie.  Xray in July 2011- normal no bone involvement. Had a non needle NCS in Nov 2011 - normal, but arm was never bent for the NCS just straight.  (Straight arm has always had the least amount of pain and numbness.). Bone scan in Feb 2012- normal.  MRI in Aug 2012- normal (once again never bent arm just straight, in/out in 15 minutes).  Seen a specialist in Oct 2012 and he pinioned that it was indeed ulnar entrapment. referred me to Surgeon, seen surgeon in Dec 2012 and he agreed with specialist.  Had surgery Feb 2013.  Ulnar was decompressed and moved to inside of arm under muscle (don't know if it has a special name)

That day of my surgery I had a horrendous Charlie Horse pain in arm.  Numbness in pinkie finger returned day after surgery. The feeling of something stuck in my elbow at the point was gone, and the numbness down the arm to the pinkie finger was gone.  swelling over the new site of the ulnar was present for about 8 weeks, and then it gradually receded.  Incision very painful until a short while ago.  now the area over the incision is only painful sometimes but mostly it is very itchy and it will feel very irritated.  the area over where the ulnar now sits is very tender.  jut rubbing lotion on it cause a huge increase in pain. Sleeping at night the feeling of the sheets just touching the elbow area is like sandpaper is being rubbed against my elbow.   The pinkie is very sensitive and I will get a huge increase in the sensation.  |Just touching the tip of the pinkie will feel like I have it in a vise.   Squeezing the pinkie(gently) will feel like the nerves are raw in the pinkie. The pinkie has started to give the sensation of being hot and numb.   The hand has started to feel tight- kind of like when you get out of a chlorine swimming pool and your skin feels tight.  I have started to get a pinch feeling at the base of the pinkie, but there is no anomalies there.  I can massage the area of the pinkie and it doesn't go away like if you just have something out of place. 

I did manage to get some post surgical physio for 5 weeks and it started 2 weeks ago.  \it hasn't really made any difference yet.  I m worried that the pinkie numbness is permanent now and its is not going to resolve its self. 

Yes  I understand that nerves take time to heal, but as there has been no significant improvement in the numbness In the pinkie area I am starting to get very concerned and worried.

I have brought up all these issues with all my drs but they are all telling me that hey wont know until Aug 2013 or Dec 2013 if the issues with the pinkie will be permanent.  \I am hoping that there are others out there who have had this surgery and can give me some perspective on the recovery.    

Posted 6/24/2013 11:18 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to HW Chronic Pain,

Have no experience with your particular ailment, so can't help you directly. Hopefully someone will come around and give you some advice.

This is a great place to deal with any of your pain issues in general.

Hope you get some relief, and hopefully your finger will ultimately heal.

david
Posted 6/25/2013 12:13 AM (GMT 0)
Sandur, sorry you are having continued pain after your surgery. its really frustrating when you think surgery is going to be the answer and it doesnt work that way.

I had the same surgery alittle over two years ago. I had continueing pain for months afterwards and at the one year mark the dr considered going back in, stating that it must be scar tissue. My scar area was so painful and itchy it was literally driving me nuts. In my case he happened to be examining my arm and saw a small blue line, like an oddly place vein. One of my internal sutures had come undone and was slowly working its way to the skin. He made a small slit and pulled out a three inch suture. Everything was much better after that. So my recovery was not typical to say the least.

Today I still have elbow pain and I cant rest on my elbow for more than a little bit but better than before the transposition. Hoping maybe someone with a typical healing process will come along and be able to help.

Wishing you luck!
Posted 7/3/2013 3:11 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the hope Shell74.  Creeping up on 5 months post -op, every day I'm hoping for less pain, numbness and discomfort.  Thanks for your insight into your surgery and recovery. 

SANDUR 

 

Posted 7/4/2013 6:48 AM (GMT 0)
Dear Sandur If the nerve is very poorly compressed or if you have muscle spending, you may have some symptoms even after the surgery. Nerve restore slowly, and it can take some time to know how well it will do after the surgery.

Post Edited By Moderator (opnwhl4) : 8/6/2013 9:19:30 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/28/2013 2:17 AM (GMT 0)

Update-  

Still have numbness in the pinkie, which is basically constant.  Still have tenderness over the new home of the ulnar nerve, still have tenderness and extreme itch over the incision.  Getting periods of numbness and cold spot numbness in ulnar side of wrist.  Still can't lay in bed and read as the position makes the numbness worse.  Still cant do repetative motions as it creats pain and discomfort in elbow (this occured before the surgery also, but it was becasue it felt like something was catching in the elbow and I would actually get nauseated from the pain). Typing on the computer causes increase in numbness between wrist and pinkie. Recently I started to get a tightness in the hand.  The best way to describe it is that it feels like when you get out of a pool thats highly chlorinated and your skin feels tight.  My hand always feel like this now.  When I make a fist or flex the hand back and forth or rotate 180 or 360 degrees I get a pulling feel in the arm.  The only way to really describe how it feels is that its like the muscles shrank and they are all of a sudden too small. 

My new worry is that there is wasting happening as the pinkie now has a "loose jointed" feel.  Just holding my hand and reading the pinkie seems to fall away from the other fingers and then I get discomfort in the pinkie and a soreness.  The physio told me to keep an eye o nthe fleshy part on the pinkie side of the hand to see if it starts to thin out.  Due to my "ehem" compo-loopyness I have been taking pictures weekly/daily of my hand and arm (fighting Compo makes you go over board on keeping track of what may or may not relevant info), and I do have pictures from before the surgery of my hand and , I dont know, maybe there is a change?? But at the same time I have drastivally reduced the use of the arm and hand due to the pain and discomfort. 

My doctor (my GP, not the surgeon) shrugs his shoulders and says hes not sure.  i ask if its just the nerves mis-signalling, shrugs, I ask if its nerve damage- just shrugs, I ask if he thinks its permenant- tells me to ask him that at the end of the year. 

I dont kow if any one else finds this but the hardest thing to do is to describe it it feels to the docotr.  HE looks at me like I'm cookoo when I'm tell in him that its like when you get out of the pool.  Does anyone else feel this way.  THat its hard to decribe what it feels like?   

AT this point all I am using for pain is a compound cream of 10%gabapentin,10%Lidocaine 10%ketoprofen (cant use diclofinac) in a transdermal.  was on Celebrex after surgery but no great pain releif, took Lyrica before the surgery but Dr said that if it didnt help before it wont help after, took Gabapentin but no help and it made my hair fall out.  DIclifonac transdermal cream gave me a very ugly red rash, Arthrotec gave me same rash and "potential ulcer symptoms, Aleve gave me "potential ulcer symptoms".  I am also taking two allergy pills a day to combat the bity/pinchy/crawly itchy pain in elbow to fingertips, and i am taking melatonin to sleep at night, currenlty at 20mg a night, dr says its not habit forming and I can potentially take up to 2000MG a night. 

Sorry for the long ramble.  Starting to feel hopeless and that these symptoms will always be here.  Obviously its is better than before the surgery but with the evolving symptoms I worry that the pain in the elbow wasnt so bad and now I've opened a whole new can of worms.   

  

Posted 10/24/2013 11:58 AM (GMT 0)

sandur said...
Hello everyone. I'm hoping for some advise from those how have had a ulnar transposition and how they have coped , how fast they recovered ect..
I injuried my ulnar nerve in May 2011. I hit the ulnar just behind the point of the elbow. Massive swelling of elbow, and then the pain started a few days afterward as well as numbness in pinkie. Xray in July 2011- normal no bone involvement. Had a non needle NCS in Nov 2011 - normal, but arm was never bent for the NCS just straight. (Straight arm has always had the least amount of pain and numbness.). Bone scan in Feb 2012- normal. MRI in Aug 2012- normal (once again never bent arm just straight, in/out in 15 minutes). Seen a specialist in Oct 2012 and he pinioned that it was indeed ulnar entrapment. referred me to Surgeon, seen surgeon in Dec 2012 and he agreed with specialist. Had surgery Feb 2013. Ulnar was decompressed and moved to inside of arm under muscle (don't know if it has a special name)

That day of my surgery I had a horrendous Charlie Horse pain in arm. Numbness in pinkie finger returned day after surgery. The feeling of something stuck in my elbow at the point was gone, and the numbness down the arm to the pinkie finger was gone. swelling over the new site of the ulnar was present for about 8 weeks, and then it gradually receded. Incision very painful until a short while ago. now the area over the incision is only painful sometimes but mostly it is very itchy and it will feel very irritated. the area over where the ulnar now sits is very tender. jut rubbing lotion on it cause a huge increase in pain. Sleeping at night the feeling of the sheets just touching the elbow area is like sandpaper is being rubbed against my elbow. The pinkie is very sensitive and I will get a huge increase in the sensation. |Just touching the tip of the pinkie will feel like I have it in a vise. Squeezing the pinkie(gently) will feel like the nerves are raw in the pinkie. The pinkie has started to give the sensation of being hot and numb. The hand has started to feel tight- kind of like when you get out of a chlorine swimming pool and your skin feels tight. I have started to get a pinch feeling at the base of the pinkie, but there is no anomalies there. I can massage the area of the pinkie and it doesn't go away like if you just have something out of place.

I did manage to get some post surgical physio for 5 weeks and it started 2 weeks ago. \it hasn't really made any difference yet. I m worried that the pinkie numbness is permanent now and its is not going to resolve its self.

Yes I understand that nerves take time to heal, but as there has been no significant improvement in the numbness In the pinkie area I am starting to get very concerned and worried.

I have brought up all these issues with all my drs but they are all telling me that hey wont know until Aug 2013 or Dec 2013 if the issues with the pinkie will be permanent. \I am hoping that there are others out there who have had this surgery and can give me some perspective on the recovery.

Posted 10/24/2013 5:27 PM (GMT 0)
Hell Elaine & welcome to the chronic pain forum. Elaine you have posted on a thread that has not had any activity since July and we have not heard from the Sandur since that time. We ask all new members to start their own intro thread so that all members will see it & be able to give you a proper hello & welcome aboard.

Take care.....Susie
Posted 10/25/2013 1:44 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Elaine, just I'm still hanging around. I check in and troll the posts to see if anyone else has posted with the same issues.



So here's my update. I am now 8 and, oh, 1/2 months post ulnar decompression and relocation. I still have numbness in the pinkie and pinkie side of hand. The new place of the ulnar is still tender and sensitive to touch and I can't wear any shirts with sleeves that go over the incision and the elbow joint due to the pressure on the nerve. My arm has this weird fatigued feel ( the kind if feeling you get in your body when your extremely tired ) , I get this fatigued feel in the hand as well. The wrist is stiff and when I flex my wrist I can feel the muscles pulling in the forearm. The hand - the skin feels tight on the back side as well as the palm- it's like the skin has shrunk and feels too small. I get a tight pinchy feel in the palm as well.

Basically all the symptoms have appeared since surgery except for the numbness in the pinkie. The pinkie numbness was present before the surgery. I don't see the surgeon again until January but I go for a disability assessment in December for compensation.

I would like to hear from anyone who has had Snyder of these symptoms after a similar surgery. I'm concerned with the ongoing issues


Sandur.
Posted 10/25/2013 2:43 AM (GMT 0)

Hello Sandur,

         I am sorry about all the problems you are going through. I constantly do a google search to see if anyone is going through the same issues I am.

I myself had ulnar nerve transposition surgery May 2013. I have read through your forum and a lot of the issues you have talked about seem to be problems I am dealing with. It has been 5.5 months since my surgery was preformed and I am not a happy camper. My incision sight is numb 24/7 on the outside but I still feel negative sensations in the arm. I have a constant pins and needles feeling in my arm going down to my fingers. I have pain in my wrist and in my hand since the surgery. My elbow, wrist and fingers constantly swell. On a daily basis I do not use my left arm because if I do it puts me in a lot of pain. I try to do normal things with my left arm but I have been unsuccessful. My left arm is very week and I cannot carry or hold things on that side. I have been in physical therapy for many months but I don't know if it is helping anymore. My arm like yours feels very tight at times. sometimes I am not doing anything at all and my entire arm goes numb. I constantly wake up with a heavy pins and needles feeling in the middle of the night and when that sensation goes away, than the extreme pain comes. I have also noticed my elbow now makes a clicking noise. My surgeon doesn't know what else to do for me. I try to describe some of my issues going on and he sometimes acts stumped. He said there is a possibility of surgery again but after the first one not doing me any good I really don't feel I am open to the idea of a second one. This entire situation frustrates me very much and it is impacting my life greatly.

Posted 10/25/2013 11:37 PM (GMT 0)
So glad to see an update from you Sandur but very sorry to read of all the problems you are experiencing. I have seen this surgery done many times and each time the person has ended up with a host of different issues after surgery. I injured both elbows in a fall from a motorcycle and ulnar nerve transposition was recommended on both arms. I refused because I had seen too much from others that had the surgery.

I hope when you see the dr he will be able to help you out....Susie
Posted 10/26/2013 1:04 AM (GMT 0)
Oh Elaine, aside from the numbness at the site of the incision- which the surgeon warned would happen- and that's the only thing that didn't happen to me. I told my surgeon if the skin at the incision ended up numb I would be fine with that!!! I know your probably saying no you wouldn't but considering everything else.

I get the extreme pain when my fingers get cold. Of course it hasn't gotten real cold yet but I still wear my little gloves every morning. I found out that if I don't wear my gloves my fingers feel like they have frost bite and are warming up. ( for those that life wear it gets winter it's like going outside with no gloves on and your hands getting real cold and when you go inside and your finders start to warm you get the burning feel ). Oh how I'm not looking forward to winter in my little slice of British Columbia.

I'm left handed and its my left elbow so I do lots of things that cause an increase in pain and discomfort but have no choice.

Speedy healing, don't give up and don't let your drs give up. Oush them to do diagnostic tests like EMG/NCS/MRI. Whatever to five out what causing your pain. I'm waiting for January for the specialist to order more tests to figure out what's going on.

Sandur
Posted 10/26/2013 10:33 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you Sandur,

I will not give up an neither should you. I am believing one day I will be back to normal.

Elaine

Posted 10/27/2013 2:40 PM (GMT 0)
That's exactly all we can hope for. Each morning I wake and if I don't have pins and needles in my hand I lay in bed hoping that when I get up there is no discomfort, numbness or pain. One day it will happen.

Keep strong and don't give up the fight!!!!!
Posted 4/6/2014 2:44 AM (GMT 0)
........Sigh............

SO now I am at almost 14 months post surgery and 35 months post injury.

Nothing has changed......... Still I wake with pins and needles every morning.  I dont sleep well at night as I wake numerous times in the night with discomfort and stiffness in the elbow or pins and needles in the hand.  I take 75mg trazodone to sleep and still I wake up numerous times each night.    Post surgical I have taken Lyrica for the nerve pain and discomfort, weaned off of that (I was having "ulcer-like" symptoms) and started taking Cymbalta...... Tried Gabapentin before the surgery but hair fell out (much more than normal daily hair loss),so a bit concerened about trying it again.  Tried Elival before the surgery for insomnia but I was left way too groggy and unmotivated the next day.  And of course I take trazodone for sleep.  

Surgeon vetoed any further tests, he pinioned that maybe doing a release in the wrist may help, but is recluctant to do it as its a 50/50 chance (and Im probably not willing to try it without prove that it is compressed in the wrist).  Had a repeat NCS in December 2013 and the values were lower than the previous NCS.  I have limited understanding of the NCS values, aside from knowing that a lower number probaly isnt better.  (if anyone out there can help me to understand the values better I'd appreciate it greatly!!!)

Going to see the pain management dr that I seen who referred me to the surgeon , in a couple of weeks.  Hopefully he can help with with the pain and discomfort.  Aside from that nothing else is better or new. 

If anyone has any suggested for meds/whatever that help with the pins and needles or the fatigued/achy feeling in the forearm and hand- I'm all ears.

I'll try to update sooner than 6 months, but it seems pointless when there is no change. 

Sandur

Posted 8/14/2014 7:18 AM (GMT 0)
Sandur,

I hope this message has you feeling better. Holy crap man, as much as I am happy to find you, I am sorry for your pain and troubles.....I feel ya!
Thank you for sharing your situation and chronicling it so well here, I just start off saying that it is much appreciated.

I want to connect with you on your posts and our mutual mind and body **** as well as put my situation out there as well.

I had ulnar nerve transpo back 5/27/14, so 10 weeks ago which seems like a lot longer come to think of it. This followed elbow dislocation and reconstructive surgery. My entrapment was a post symptom of surgery. I came out of elbow surgery in wacked out pain, due to entrapment of my nerve which I did not know at the time. I was in a very bad way and it quickly became apparent that I was trapped. Soooo, after a nerve study at 2.5 weeks after surgery, the neuro told me and my ortho 100% blockage and surgery is imperative quickly. Sho enough I had an hourglass pinch on the nerve from scar tissue or some and the damage was done. Now I have a resulting injury that has become WAY more paramount than my initial catastrophic mountain bike elbow dislocation.

The pain out of surgery took the wind out of my sails for many weeks and though not as horrible as it was still very uncomfortable. I never heard if nerve pain before this b.s. and now it was loud and clear. Huge shots of pain, 10/10 were coming through by the minute. Narcos didn't work, as we know for nerve pain, and as much lyrica I could take didn't seem to be doing crap But if they say it works I don't want to try this pain w/o it, right. My hand felt like it was run over by a steam roller...a truck, stiffness, soreness, electro burning stinging......like Sandur said...so hard to explain...because this is not what we're accustomed to, like ouch doesn't cut it. And that is frustrating when trying to tell anyone who will listen(got loved ones, docs,pts,rabbis,fellow hurt people). That is why I can ramble here. I have been searching...I feel on an island with this injury....this isn't supposed to happen, this was gonna be the summer of our lives....ride, surf, hike, jump, party.........screaching halt! We fight...which is exhausting with this. I realize i am feeling sad and pre occupied for/with myself....and I am...and if your reading this maybe you are too...duh that's what brought us here...to share
4.5 and 5 are numb and sting all day daily(lemon in wound style), the tip of my ring finger was very painful and has started to gradually lessen, the interface where numb and fee connect is the war zone, scar numb, numb like, feel like ass numb, elbow kinda recovering, no lateral motion in fingers, pinky is out in left field and like wood, nanu nanu out of the question, fist hurts(no really), wrist swollen and on fire, phil lesh is a living legend, my physical therapist is a saint, my surgeon had/has good intentions but. sleep meh,

It seems mm by cm and hair by bloody hair feeling may be coming back....the insidiousness of this injury is one night or morning you feel you are coming back and you get put back in check real quick...is it excruciatingly slow or are we not moving forward at all. Man I'm deep.

I have some obvious appts coming up to determine my prognoses as do you. Please let's keep this forum rolling and be in touch. Herb works surprisingly well. I had never used it as the medicine that it is.

Godspeed y'all
Lee

Hello Lee, I have edited a few words out of your post because of language. Please look at the top of this page and you will see Rules. We ask that you read the rules & become familiar with them. Since we never know the ages of our readers we do have to keep our posts clean & Healing Well is a family oriented site. Thanks.

Post Edited By Moderator (straydog) : 10/24/2014 8:43:24 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/14/2014 6:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hi ellbee,

I feel for you.  Though on the bright side it sounds as though they found your entrapment rapidly.  Which is a good thing. 

I had a cortisone injection (done by ultrasound and live xray, sorry cant remember the name- flouro-something) last week.  No change confused .  Asked my doctor on a follow up what he though and he said it is about 4 days post injection that the success (or failure) will be noted.  WHen they injected me firtst they injected the freezing into my arm- HOLY CRAP- they got the nerve dead on.  MY 4th and 5th were clawed and frozen for 3-4 hours.  It was burning, I'm squealing and asking for a general anestetic for the injection.  Apparently I'm a big baby.  On the bright side I did find out that I have 4 non ferrous stapples in my arm- by the xray they look tohave been put into place to hold the nerve. 

Strangly enough the doctor that did the injection recommened that I should return to see my surgeon.  What??? He didnt eleborate on why, mentioned a MRI.....What??????

Still I have the numbness and tingling in the 4.5 and 5, down the 5 side of hand and into the wrist on same side.  I have started wearing a elbow strap type brace.  Not really sure it its helping.  I'm going to get fitted for it at physio tomorrow.  I'm concerned Im not wearing it right.  As I'm left handed if I write with the brace on the hand goes almost completely numb (I really dont think this is good).  When I take the brace off most of the time my hand will go instantly numb.  I have worn it to bed but the pain in the elbow seems worse then, or maybe its better than the nights I dont wear it.  I really dont know.  All I know is that pain has got to go.  Numbness I can deal with, but not constant pain. 

Off the Cymbalta, man that was a devil drug.  The withdrawals were terrible.  Back to Gabapentin.  Maybe be trying Amytripline in October so I need to wean down, but Amytripline gives me horrid drug drowseiness hangovers on a moderate dose.... ughhhhhhhhhhhhhh

It has to get better, right Lee?  Anyways I'm glad to hear that you are getting feeling back, even if its a slow slow process.   Heres to you getting all the feeling back and the pesky numbness fades.  They caught it quickly so hopefully any nerve damage is minimal.    

Keep me posted on your nrecovery, I always like to hear that healing is possible!!!

Take Care, Stacey

 

Posted 8/27/2014 1:40 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks to all of you who have provided information in this stream. My husband had surgery 6 months ago and is in more pain than before surgery. Numbness is subsiding and strength in little finger is returning. But the pain!

Your experience with pursuing answers is very helpful. I hope he is going for a second opinion to help get an answer to ... why the chronic pain? I'll let you know.
Posted 8/27/2014 2:52 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Sshort

Lets hope the pain is a good sign, that its a sign of the nerve regenereating and enervating the surrounding tissues.  Hopefully your hubby has a doctor more concerned about the cause then just saying dont know!!!!!

On the advise of the pain docotr on July 22 I started wearing a epicondylis (sp) brace (the tennis elbow strap).  All of a suddent rhe numbness has worsened in the pinkie and half the ring finger and down the hand.  I went to see a different dr in th cklinic (just because I couldnt see mine) and he said to stop wearing it.  DUh, I needed him to record that as its a open WCB case.  He said that if it doesnt subside in 10 days th\en they will have to send me for a EMG to see if there is furtger compression form wearing the brace.  Which wa sexactly what I was a fraid of and why I pushed WCB to pay for me to see a physio dr to be properly fitted for the brace and too make sure I had it on right.  

Keep pushing the docotors.  If you dont like their answer push to see someone else.  

I feel like I bullied my docotor to see the sugeon, but at the first visit with the surgeon he said lets operate- this subsided most of my pain!!! WHich I am happy and grateful for.  I had hopes of it eliminating all the pain, but that is not the case.  

Big hugs to you, and thank you for looking on behalf of your hubby.  MOst spouses dont and wont undestand.  BIG HUG!!!! 

Posted 9/9/2014 10:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Sandur,
I thought I would share my experience of Ulnar Nerve Transposition. I first had carpel release surgery in 2008 on my right hand which worked ok for for a couple of years but as the nature of my work the problem just got worse. In 2011 I had a consultation with my surgeon and he recommended Ulnar Nerve Transposition which I think is the same thing you have had done. I had my surgery on my right arm in December 2013. It is now September 2014 ( I am in Ireland ) and I have just had my first physio session after almost ten months (I dont have health insurance) which has left me in very serious pain. Just after my surgery I experienced chronic pain and constant pain which I have never had before. I am on several codeine painkillers a day I take 900gms of gabapentin a day and also use up to 3 lidocaine patches a day I have lost my job and basically it has taken me a long time to type this considering I am a trained typist and although I retain the skill I dont have the dexterity any longer. I cannot carry any weight in my right hand and it remains swollen and needs to be bandaged in order to ward other people off from knocking into me.

The pain I have is constant excruciating and does not seem to be getting any better. The physio I have been given to follow involves a big elastic band this I need to squeeze and pull ten times a day and also I have to put ice on my arm which is constantly swollen. I have been advised to put my arm (which now is lacking in about 75% feeling from the elbow to the wrist) in iced water once a day for as long as I can bear. I am 43 yrs old and had the surgery on the advice of a different surgeon as I was losing power in my hand and had the typical pains pins and needles etc that the carpal release did not fix. If only I could turn back time I would never have had this done at all. My left hand is now displaying signs of damage due to overuse. It sounds to me that you are having a slow but good rate of recovery and I am actually hoping that in a couple of years I will have some also. The very best of luck with your recovery.

Ann
Posted 10/7/2014 8:06 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Sandur
I too. .like everyone here is suffering from Ulnar Nerve pain..
I have never heard of this "Ulnar nerve pain ) until July/2013..when I was told that I had Ulnar Nerve Palsy. ..after having ENG testing..I was told that I will be needing surgery... While waiting for surgery my Dr had prescribed Gabapentin..hoping it would help with the nerve pain...No such luck in that depth. My surgery took place Oct./13...wow!! Recovery was terrible. ..I was in constant pain..still no feeling in my 4.5 and 5 the finger..now it was also affecting half my Palm. ..pins & needles, pain...the whole nine yards. .
My Dr. also prescribed Elvis (30 mg) at bedtime...increased my gabapentin to 1300 mg qid. ..also oxycodon 10mg (2 tabs tid prn)
Well to no relief...I was referred to another surgeon. ..whom he sent me for more tests...MRI. .ultrasounds..x-rays...to find out that I need surgery again 😕 This time they did Ulnar Nerve Transposition. .and also operated on my wrist (Guyons Canal...as ulnar nerve is down in wrist too)
I had this surgery Sept. 15/2014 ...so far I have awful pain in elbow region...and fingers and my palm show no signs of improvement yet....if anything they feel worse. ..because of the pain...I can sleep maybe 2-3 hours at a time then have to get up
I have been going through this Ulnar Nerve pain for 1.3 yrs now...I have lost a large amount of muscle mass in my hand and arm...to make matters worse...this is my dominant hand :(
I am hoping that I do not have to go through surgery again...
I am not on any form of disability...don't even know of I can get anything like that.
My job does not offer short term disability...so am using my holidays up...just so I get a paycheck of some sort...

Post Edited (Gramma june 02) : 10/7/2014 2:10:29 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/22/2014 11:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I just went through Ulnar nerve decompression & Transposition surgery on Oct 7/2014. Prior to surgery I had the tingling feeling in my pinkie and ring finger like everyone else mentions on here, but I have net seen any comments about hand cramping and forearm muscle twitching. I'm curious if this is a common experience.

First I felt and on and off tingling sensation in my last two digits for about a month which progressed into a constant sensation. This sensation remained for about 6 months until it was accompanied by a relentless twitching in the muscles of my forearm. I thought this was odd but brushed it aside. I started to research my symptoms when all of my fingers started to "pull in" or cramp bad, and the twitching would not stop after 10 minutes or so.

After My EMG, x-rays, and 6 other appointments in a week and half time frame I had the decompression and transposition surgery. I felt a great deal of pain right after the process. The pain involves a hot burning feeling in my elbow partnered with swelling about 3 inches above my elbow down toward my hand about 4 inches below my elbow. The area is not red but I feel very sharp stabbing pains. The odd part is it is numb when I slightly rub it, but then again a slight touch will send me through the roof in pain. Again I have cramping in my forearm and palm at times. I have an on and off burning feeling in my left palm all the time.

As I mentioned previously, there is no mention of cramping in anyone's explanation. Is this something related or has anyone heard of this? I have never taken pain medication and frankly I'm not a huge fan of the effects, especially when all they do is slightly dull the situation. The meds do not phase the burning either.

My thought's bring me to ponder a non related issue was missed with the initial testing.

Thoughts?
Posted 10/24/2014 2:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Von Awesome & welcome to the forum. Please do keep checking back as Sandur does check in from time to time & will probably be posting to you.

I have entrapment in both elbows as a result of a fall from a motorcycle. I was offered ulnar nerve transposition in both arms but declined for many reasons. Back then I saw more negative results on this particular surgery than good. I am sure by now things have been improved a great deal for this type of surgery but too much time has gone by for me to consider surgery at this point.

Some of these sensations you are having makes me wonder if its not some of the nerves waking back up since surgery. What is your dr saying about this? You speak of some burning type of pain, by chance has your dr tried you on any of the medications used to treat nerve pain? A few that come to mind are Lyrica, Neurotin, Amitriptiline or Cymbalta. If none have been recommended I would suggest discussing this with the dr as many folks get relief with these meds. You are correct, narcotics have little to effect on nerve pain.

Keep us posted on how you are doing......
Posted 10/25/2014 2:27 AM (GMT 0)
This is a late post considering when the thread started but I too had the ulnar nerve transposition in spring 2011. I also had carpel tunnel release done at the same time. I was in a cast for almost 8 weeks and then started physical therapy 2 times weekly for 6 weeks. It wasn't until mid September that the feeling came back in my pinkie and side of my hand. My hand cramped a lot that first year and I had a lot of fine motor skill issues like holding an ink pen crochet hook or painting. I still have some weakness in my right hand lower arm area like holding a weight I get very shaky. My handwriting is not what it used to be! All in all yes a long recovery but worth the healing time it took.

Please feel free to email or talk anytime if you have questions

Hope all is going well and healing

Cheri
Posted 11/29/2014 6:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hey All- Throwing my 2 cents in about my transposition surgery. My right hand had been numb for years, had a normal ulnar nerve surgery a few years ago, that didn't work and my left hand started going numb so I saw a new doc and he did the ulnar transposition surgery on my right elbow back in Feb. of this year and said it could take up to 18 months to get my feeling back. I didn't want to wait 18 months for the left hand so I had that one done 6 weeks later.
Fast forward to this past Sep. and I still had a numb hand and pain in my elbow and armpit so my regular dr. sent me to see somebody else, they did an mri and found a tumor (benign) in my spinal cord. I had that taken out and had no pain for a week and a half but the pain came back. It's only in my right arm and the pain is intense, lasting from 3 - 10 seconds in either the elbow or armpit. I don't notice the pain if I'm moving around but if I'm on the couch, driving or at my desk at work I feel it. I had no pain at all before the transposition surgery (just the numbness), is this the same type of pain everybody else is feeling?
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