Has anyone had Ulnar Nerve Surgery?? (1 Viewer)

[Phil_L]

Thinking my elbow problems might have to be resolved in this manner. Anyone with any experience with this surgery?
Thanks

 

[LDfan]

No experience yet. My wife is going to be having surgery soon though to get the very same procedure done. Do a search on the forum for unlar nerve and it should bring up a thread from a month or two ago discussing this very same topic.

Good Luck!

Jeff

 

[Eric_L]

Follow your doctors advice. I compressed my ulnar nerve a few months ago. My. Dr told me that it could take months to heal. He told me to get an albow pad to wear, but all the ones I found apply pressure to the elbow - which seems contrary to the need. I've been trying to keep use of my elbow to minimal and use a heating pad for about an hour a day. It seems to slowly be recovering, though on occasion I forget and over-bend it and set myself back a bit. :frowning:

Non-surgical alternatives are always preferential, particularly for mild cases (no pain). My understanding is that the surgery is not that difficult with few side effects.

 

[Mark Murphy]

I had submuscular ulnar transposition surgery in June of '03. It was done to correct Cubital Tunnel Syndrome, not to be confused with Carpal Tunnel. Basically I had the "I just banged my funny bone" feeling almost all the time and lost a good amount of strength as well. Immediatley following the prodedure, my symptoms were relieved. It took almost 10 weeks of rehab to get my arm back to 100%. I had an eight inch incision that required 24 staples to close which left quite the battle scar.

 

[DonnyD]

Yes, I had the surgery aout 17 years ago and would definitely have it done again. Don't know how it is done now, but back then, the neurologist basically cut the nerve and moved its sheath up and out of its original path "around" the elbow which basically eliminated the "stretch" of the nerve when you bend your arm. The nerve had to "grow" back down the sheath and at 1 inch per month, that meant about 16-18 months before success is actually realized.
I can say that it solved most of my problems especially the pain felt with ordinary, everyday use that you take for granted. My worse problem was grip strength ..... being an avid dirt biker at the time, holding on is VERY important...LOL

 

[Mark Murphy]

Ouch, Donny, that procedure sound painful. My surgery was done by a orthaepedic hand specialist. My nerve was actually being crushed not stretched. There are few different types of procedures to correct it now. How long was your total recovery?

 

[Scott Tucker]

My wife had the surgery. She said it was the easiest surgery she's ever had. A small 1/2 inch incision in her palm, butterfly bandage and no stiches. Fine within a week.

Scott

 

[DonnyD]

Mark..... It's been a long time but I DO still remember some details.
I actually had two procedures done a day apart while in the hospital. Hernia surgery AND the ulnar relocation. BAD IDEA!!!!!! Didn't realize I'd need BOTH arms to get up and down after the hernia surgery!!!! LOL

Actually, there wan't much pain from the surgery. It was a 6 inch incision which extended over the funny bone area. There was immediate relief from the finger/hand pain since the nerve was cut. Little tingles were about all I felt during the following months. A pretty easy recovery actually.

The REALLY painful thing was.....

I had traditional stitches as the closure. The day they were to be removed, my doctor was sick and due to some out of town family committments, several more days passed before I was able to get the stitches removed. They had mostly grown over with new skin and had to be DUG out. That's a perfectly good word to descibe it.... DUG!!!!! That area of your arm is VERY sensitive!

What I really hate about surgerys is the area surrounding incision scars sometimes get really sensitive and you can't stand anything touching it. Having had several other major surgerys (to repair, replace or remove bad parts.... LOL)I have several sensitive areas.....