Pain After Ulnar Nerve Decompression Surgery....

Hi I am happy to meet all of you...

On December 21 I had my decompression done on my dominant elbow... Everything seemed to be going well.. I still have numbness from my incision to the outer side of my elbow.. Intensely sensitive from my incision to the inside of my elbow... What worries me though is it hurts to move my wrist... started off stiff but now when I move it I can feel the muscles move in my forearm and mild to moderate pain in the back of my wrist and back of my hand. Like muscles pulling... Today, my wrist hurts bad enough for me to wear my wrist brace... I don't see my Doc until February 6... Has anyone had this before? I had a carpal tunnel release in this hand in 10/2015.. I appreciate your help..

**TCG**

I was also going to ask about PT. I was given PT excercises to do at home, within days of decompression surgery. I was surprised because the day of I went home with what I called my "mummy arm", and that wrap was only for a few days. Dr said no brace and to get moving-obviously within the set guidelines. i was also to use a pillow at night to help keep my arm/elbow at an angle to prevent tightening.

That being said, every surgery, even if in the same area,is different.
I'm not sure what you were told to expect. Definitely call your Dr if you aren't sure what to do.

It can take up to a year for nerves to fully regenerate, and even then, you'll probably still get an unexpected jolt or twinge. Now, instead of it being your funny bone, it's like a shock collar-buzzzz

Hi Jasmine, welcome to the forum, sorry you have to be here.

You said this was a work injury, so I'm assuming your care was through Workers Comp.

First off, I'd get a second opinion. See a neurologist.

Every injury is different. There is no 'textbook case', especially when it comes to nerves.

The ulnar nerve originates in the neck and terminates at the finger tips. I had an injury that involved the elbow. X-ray showed no break, I was given a sling and sent home. Next day I couldn't lift my arm! Long story short, I had a 3/4 thickness tear in the rotator cuff in my shoulder. After that was repaired, we turned our attention to my elbow issues. I had torn the sheath and my ulnar nerve was 'loose' and rubbing back and forth over the bone! I had the transposition surgery done and for the most part, have had a 'good result'. The nerve is permanently damaged, but has calmed down considerably.

Your wrist injury could have caused damage elsewhere that was not apparent.

Get that second opinion and let us know how things are going. If Workers Comp gives you a hard time, get a lawyer!

@straydog,@pitmom and all : do you have any idea about cost-range of this surgery,I mean ulnar nerve transposition in india?Any rough idea?

I know that many of these posts are older, however I need to know what I’m in for. I have been enrolled in college working towards nursing since 2019. I just turned 52 years old and he had to decide on some kind of a career because my husband has Lou Gehrig’s disease. On January 28 of 2020 I was involved in an automobile accident while on my way to school. I had a transverse radial neck fracture which involved the bone impacting upon itself and healing sort of bent(It also compressed my ulnar nerve ) I saw a doctor for over a year and was in a lot of pain so I was referred two hours away for arthroscopic surgery. I ended up choosing somebody closer because he is the top surgeon where I live. Long story short I had surgery December 30 of 2021, he did a debreedment ( plica and scar tissue) and decompressed the nerve. While he was Decompressing my nerve he accidentally severed it completely in half, And I had to have it reattached two days later and transposed by a different surgeon. I have no feeling in my ring finger or my baby finger/ part of my arm I am in physical therapy working on fine motor skills but I have severe muscle atrophy in my hand.
My two fingers that are affected Swell up and split open, they are constantly cold. What are my chances of regaining feeling back?

Hi Susie,

I actually did ask, he wouldn’t really come right out and give me a straight answer. He told me that the nerve wasn’t a complete match, but he did the best he could to freshen up the ends and reattach it.
He also said that nerves regenerate quicker in a younger person ( it’s basically a waiting game).
I haven’t had any improvement yet, but I will keep working at it. It’s a challenge to work with the numbness/ motor skills and the weakness.