Checking the Facts

• Before any other action, you should determine that you do have cubital tunnel syndrome. The symptoms are numbness in the pinkie and ring finger, numbness in the forearm, reduced strength in the grip and clumsiness controlling gripping actions, sensitivity over the "funny bone" and sometimes associated pain in these areas. Along with these symptoms, certain conditions affecting the action of the elbow are present. In some cases, you will have suffered a direct blow to the elbow: a serious strike on the area over the funny bone can be one cause of a pinched elbow nerve. The common nickname for the syndrome can give you another clue: cell phone elbow. Holding your arm bent for extended periods of time can place extreme stretching pressure on the nerve as it passes the bones of the elbow, as can a similar posture held for hours when sleeping. Some work postures, as when typing, can cause damage over time. If you are suffering the symptoms of cubital tunnel syndrome along with any of the recognized causes, you have a fair chance of suffering the condition.
  
  

What Can You Do?

• The two primary approaches to home treatment of cubital tunnel syndrome are rest and the reduction of inflammation. If you have struck the elbow you should maintain a relaxed arm posture for a period of days while taking an over-the-counter pain killer and anti-inflammatory such as aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen. If a splint serves to immobilize the arm motion then put one to use.
  
  The same methods can be used with repetitive motion injury caused by a repeated action or posture; however, the situation is complicated by habit and often by occupation. If your work depends on your repetitive motion or stance, then a solution must be found that will allow you to perform without further damage to the nerve. Joint splints, ergonomic furniture and alteration of the placement of equipment used together with anti-inflammatory medication can help.
  
  If the injuring position is a sleep position, a splint may be the only way to prevent the body from returning to its habitual sleep posture. Bracing the arm with pillows, too, can help assure the joint isn't stressed further. Sometimes an effort to sleep in a completely new sleep posture--reversing the side slept on, shifting to the back from the side or stomach and similar choices--can provide relief.
  
  

What if It Doesn't Get Better?

• As with carpal tunnel syndrome, a pinched nerve in the elbow can be hard to cure using home remedies. Because arms are in constant use, because the body is so attached to its physical habits and because we often fail to notice symptoms until after substantial damage is done, the home remedies suggested may fail to provide relief. At that point, it is important to bring in your doctor. Sometimes improvement is as easily gained as a shot of cortisone. Other times, a progressing injury can only be reduced through surgery--and as scary as that sounds it is far better than allowing progressive damage to a major nerve to the hand to get worse.
  
  Home remedies can be of great help, but they can't cover all situations. Test the simple approach of changing your habits and posture, immobilizing the joint and using anti-inflammatory. But if that fails, make good use of a good doctor.