Subluxing Ulnar Nerve

[jk816]

It turns out that the symptoms of medial elbow pain I've been having, heretofore diagnosed and treated as medial epicondylapathy, is actually a case of the ulnar nerve subluxating with elbow flexion.

When I flex my elbow the nerve, normally routed below the epicondyle, rides up over the surface of the epicondyle, causing soreness on the surface of the epdicondyle and surrounding area. No signs of tendon damage nor nerve damage thus far. Why the nerve leaves the cubital tunnel and rides up is still a question mark.

Has anyone here ever dealt with this in the playing career? The ortho thought there might be an elbow sleeve that could be worn to resist the nerve moving, but couldn't suggest a product. Transposition surgery is possible if it gets bad enough, but I'm done with elective surgeries.....

Anybody beat (or at least found a way to live with) this and keep playing?

Thanks.

[Faithfulfather]

I am fighting the same thing myself. My ortho wants to do surgery, but I am resistant. Sleep with a towel wrapped around your elbow to stop your arm from being in the bent position while sleeping. It has helped me some.

[ThePro101]

I have this!

"Cubital Tunnel Syndrome" is the name given to me by my doctors. It's symptoms are the same as you describe.

I also had an ulnar transposition surgery, but that was unsuccessful. So I still suffer from the pain/symptoms.

I still play tennis, but have modified my ground strokes and serve to minimize the bending (flexion) of my arms.

I was informed of two possible operations to alleviate this, but one of them required a shaving of the medial epicondyle (bone), and would leave the nerve vulnerable and unprotected.

Feel free to PM or email me for more info/specifics.
cville.tennis at gmail.com

[gsuede]

Originally Posted by ThePro101

I have this!

"Cubital Tunnel Syndrome" is the name given to me by my doctors. It's symptoms are the same as you describe.

I also had an ulnar transposition surgery, but that was unsuccessful. So I still suffer from the pain/symptoms.

I still play tennis, but have modified my ground strokes and serve to minimize the bending (flexion) of my arms.

I was informed of two possible operations to alleviate this, but one of them required a shaving of the medial epicondyle (bone), and would leave the nerve vulnerable and unprotected.

Feel free to PM or email me for more info/specifics.
cville.tennis at gmail.com

How long was your recovery? Do you feel any better I am doing this surgery in September you are now giving me second thoughts.

[jk816]

Originally Posted by ThePro101

I have this!

"Cubital Tunnel Syndrome" is the name given to me by my doctors. It's symptoms are the same as you describe.

I also had an ulnar transposition surgery, but that was unsuccessful. So I still suffer from the pain/symptoms.

I still play tennis, but have modified my ground strokes and serve to minimize the bending (flexion) of my arms.

I was informed of two possible operations to alleviate this, but one of them required a shaving of the medial epicondyle (bone), and would leave the nerve vulnerable and unprotected.

Feel free to PM or email me for more info/specifics.
cville.tennis at gmail.com

This one's a bugger, as healing is not an option. Was yours of the "snapping" variety? Luckily, so far mine is not and the travel only appears to be halfway across the epicondyle (although I suspect the medial head of the tricep may be doing the same thing to the superior half of the epicondyle.

I'll be modifying my forehand some, as you did, trying to go more straight arm than double bend; luckily I have a 1HBH, which involves less flexion than the 2 hand variety.

Serves have been the most painful stroke (now I know why) as they involve the most rapid and forceful flexion and extension. Not sure what I'm going to do there, I've never heard of a straight arm serve and messing with mechanics can have shoulder implications (I've already had surgery there, never again!)

Thanks for your guys insights.

[dman72]

This thread makes me think that what you guys are talking about is my real issue with my elbow. I use a 2 handed backhand and I got what I thought was tennis elbow. Most of the pain resulted from forehands. The pain is pretty much completely eliminated with a straight arm forehand.

I also have the "popping" thing going on in my elbow when I flex my wrist.

[jk816]

Originally Posted by ThePro101

I have this!

"Cubital Tunnel Syndrome" is the name given to me by my doctors. It's symptoms are the same as you describe.

I also had an ulnar transposition surgery, but that was unsuccessful. So I still suffer from the pain/symptoms.

I still play tennis, but have modified my ground strokes and serve to minimize the bending (flexion) of my arms.

I was informed of two possible operations to alleviate this, but one of them required a shaving of the medial epicondyle (bone), and would leave the nerve vulnerable and unprotected.

Feel free to PM or email me for more info/specifics.
cville.tennis at gmail.com

How have you modified your service motion to deal with this? Ground strokes are Ok for me, but the serve is a problem; likely due to the increased elbow flexion during the racquet drop/ back scratch and rapid forceful extension under load in the upward swing. I don't know of any straight arm servcie motions....

Have you noticed any benefit to lighter or heavier racquets? All mine are flexy, but I have 12+ and 11+ oz racquets.

thanks.