Ulnar Neuropathy Treatment Doctors in Brooklyn, NYC & NJ

What Is Ulnar Neuropathy?

Ulnar neuropathy is a condition that affects the ulnar nerve, which runs down each side from your neck to your hand. When the ulnar nerve is compressed or damaged, you feel pain, numbness, tingling and weakness in your arm and hand. Ulnar neuropathy makes it difficult to perform tasks that require fine motor skills, such as typing, writing or playing an instrument. It can also lead to permanent nerve damage and muscle atrophy.

At Neuro Injury Specialists you find the expertise and experience to provide a firm diagnose and effective ulnar neuropathy treatment. Dr. Mark Cohen and Dr. Dmitriy Dvoskin specialize in nerve injuries and disorders. They provide you with personalized ulnar neuropathy treatments for the long-term, whether you need medication, physical therapy, nerve blocks or surgery.

What Causes Ulnar Neuropathy?

The common causes of ulnar neuropathy are trauma and compression. Trauma refers to any injury or damage to the ulnar nerve, such as fractures, dislocations, cuts or infections. Compression neuropathy refers to any pressure or squeezing of the ulnar nerve, such as from overuse, arthritis, cysts or tumors.

You may feel pain and weakness in your arm and hand when the ulnar nerve is compressed or damaged. This is because the ulnar nerve controls the movement and sensation of your ring and little fingers, as well as part of your forearm.

Some of the common causes of ulnar neuropathy include:

• Olecranon fractures, which happen when breaks in the elbow’s bony tip pinch the ulnar nerve
• Cubital tunnel syndrome, the most common type, where bending the elbow compresses the nerve
• Guyon’s canal syndrome, rare compression of the ulnar nerve in the wrist
• Peripheral neuropathy, which refers to nerve damage affecting the ulnar nerve due to diabetes, infections or other conditions

What Are the Symptoms of Ulnar Neuropathy?

The signs of ulnar neuropathy depend on the location and severity of the nerve problem. You may feel pain in the elbow, wrist, hand or fingers. The pain may be sharp, dull, burning or throbbing. It may worsen with certain movements or activities, such as bending or leaning on the elbow, holding the phone or typing.

You may also experience weakness or clumsiness of the hand or fingers while trying to grip, pinch or hold objects. You may also have difficulty performing fine motor skills, such as writing, playing an instrument or buttoning a shirt.

Other signs of this disorder include:

• Numbness or tingling in the palm, ring finger or little finger. These sensations may occur on one or both sides of the hand. They may come and go or be constant.
• Sensitivity to cold or heat. You may feel more discomfort or pain when exposed to extreme temperatures.
• Tenderness or swelling in the elbow or wrist. You may notice inflammation, redness or warmth in the area where the nerve is affected.
• Muscle wasting or atrophy in the hand or forearm. This is a sign of chronic or severe nerve damage. You may notice a loss of muscle mass or strength in the affected area.

What Are the Long-Term Effects of Untreated Ulnar Neuropathy?

Ulnar neuropathy leads to weakness of your grip and difficulty with finger coordination, causing difficulties when you need to grip, hold or pinch objects. You may also have difficulty performing fine motor skills that require dexterity of your fingers and hand.

One major concern about neuropathy in hands is the loss of feeling. This can make it hard to sense temperature, pain or touch. You may not notice injuries or infections in your hand or arm, which can lead to more serious problems.

Other potential long-term damage caused by ulnar neuropathy includes:

• Eventual paralysis of the hand or fingers
• Irreversible muscle wasting in the hand and forearm
• Potential amputation from unnoticed infections or tissue death

What Ulnar Neuropathy Treatments Are Available?

Neuro Injury Specialists offer non-surgical and surgical treatments for ulnar neuropathy. Non-surgical ulnar neuropathy treatment is for mild to moderate cases of ulnar neuropathy. They aim to relieve the symptoms and prevent further nerve damage.

Surgical treatments are reserved for severe cases of ulnar neuropathy, or when non-surgical treatments fail to improve the condition. They aim to decompress or relocate the ulnar nerve and restore its function.

Treatment for ulnar neuropathy involves one or a combination of procedures, such as:

• Medications to reduce pain, inflammation and nerve irritation
• Physical and occupational therapy, exercises to improve flexibility, strength and function of your arm and hand
• Injection therapy to reduce inflammation and swelling around the nerve and provide temporary relief
• Cubital tunnel release, a surgical procedure that releases the tunnel through which the nerve passes to create more space for the nerve and reduce the pressure on it at the elbow
• Ulnar nerve anterior transposition, a surgical procedure that moves the nerve from behind the elbow to the front of the elbow and prevents further nerve damage
• Medial epicondylectomy, a procedure to remove a part of the bone at the elbow and reduce the friction and tension on the nerve
• Guyon’s canal release, performed to create more space for the nerve and reduce the pressure on it at the wrist

Ulnar neuropathy poses a significant risk of physical disability if left untreated. Seek treatment for ulnar neuropathy because this condition is treatable with the right interventions. Contact Neuro Injury Specialists in New York and New Jersey for advanced ulnar neuropathy treatments and other nerve and pain disorders.