Does anyone have elbow pain? Or maybe a pinched nerve in the elbow?
I'm thinking maybe my elbow has inflammation and that is causing the nerves to be pressed on.
Does anyone else have problems with their elbows? If so, what do you do for it?
Thanks!
UUULLNNNARRR NEEERRRVVEEE! LoL I swear every other week this topic comes up! I bet thats what it is. There are a couple of major nerves in your elbow that can be pinched by swelling. One is the one that hurts when you hit your "funny bone" It's the ulnar nerve. It runs from somewhere around your shoulder through your elbow, and into your wrist. At your wrist it separates into several smaller, but still major nerves, that run through your pinky, ring finger, and side of your middle finger. The other major nerve runs the same length, but at your wrist is seperated into your palm and the rest of your fingers. Thats the nerve that's most commonly involved in Carpel Tunnel. However, either nerve can be pinched at the elbow. Most likely though, it's your ulnar.
Do you sleep with your elbows bent? Or do you have a repetative motion involving your elbows? A splint is the best option, obviously, to give your elbows some much needed rest. You can do what I've started to do as well. When I'm watching T.V. I put a BIG fluffy pillow in my lap and lay my arms out in front of me, and make sure not to bend my elbows up. I do that every night and I've started getting alot of relief during the day. My arm muscles aslo get a chance to relax, and I'm finding I DON'T bend my elbows at night as much. Seems I was stressing my arms through the day, and paying for it by curling them up at night.
And of course, heat and ice, etc etc. The same mess we do for every other body part! LoL
Hope that was helpful!
P.S. - I have to add that I wrote all of this off the top of my head..If I forgot anything, please, someone fill it in!
Then again....That was pretty good...I wanna be a nurse now. :|
thanks Katie - have to agree about the ulnar nerve. No, I don't sleep with my arm bent - it's straight. I am going to my GP tomorrow...will have her look at it. It really hurts ALOT!
Aww :( Then you don't get the simple fix answer of "stop bening it" That blows monkey chunks :*( I'm sorry. I hope there's something they can do aside from surgery.
Phatgirl2