Two or 14 days off! Cubital tunnel syndrome is the pinching of the ulnar nerve at the elbow (right at your “funny bone”). It’s like carpal tunnel syndrome, but at your elbow instead of your wrist, with a different nerve.
The symptoms are tingling in your small and ring fingers and numbness with hand weakness. When it wakes you up more than once a week, it can and will cause permanent nerve damage, so get surgery!
I always do the mini-surgery through a 2-inch incision and leave the nerve where it has the best, natural blood supply.
Some “Old Fashioned” surgeons do the maxi surgery, which moves the nerve from its natural blood supply and is much more painful. So, mini surgery, off 2 days, maxi surgery, off 14 days!
Walker Wynkoop, MD, lives in Los Banos and is a Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon with 30 years experience. He works at Surgical Affiliates of California. Please email questions to: Doc@Wynmd.com.
