Trapped Ulnar Nerve...Surgery or Not??

Parent Cafe
1

If you have dealt with, or have close contact with someone who dealt with Trapped Ulnar Nerve in Elbow, please PM me with story of your experience. If I am going to go surgical route, this is the year to do it. Our family has maxed out our deductible with insurance company.

My questions are:

  1. Did you do simple surgical procedure and just untrap nerve right where it is, or did you have more risky surgery that moves the ulnar nerve into inside crook of the elbow? I am dealing with arthritis in my elbow, and am told if I don't do the more risky surgery, the nerve can become entrapped again.
  2. Did you do surgery (which kind?) and if so, do you have any regrets? Side effects, loss of movement in arm, etc.?
  3. Any advice of questions to ask my surgeon, or things to consider as I weigh my options?
  4. Any non-surgical options that helped alleviate the elbow pain?
  5. If you chose NOT to do surgery, why, and are you still happy with that decision? I feel there is a window of time with my age to do surgery and recover, or just have to live with the consequences.

If you don’t want to PM, and don’t mind sharing, you can just reply to this thread.

Thanks.

2

Just sharing my opinion, I would do the reroute to the front of the elbow technique.

3

Have you had a massage or physical therapy?
What have you tried?
http://www.massagetherapy.com/articles/index.php/article_id/2050/Oh-Boy-This-Could-Get-Interesting
I used to get that ( numbness in fingers) when I spent a lot of time behind the wheel.I held my arms at an awkward angle, and tensed my back so much it cut off circulation.
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00069

4

I have previously (couple of years ago) been through the entire 6 month process of xrays, nerve tests, massage, physical therapy, MRI to rule out other causes, etc. I ran out of money for the surgery bc of all the testing, so I had to just live with it.

Now I am in position to decide if I want the surgery, and if so, which kind. There are risks involved. I am looking for stories from people who have had this surgery.

5

“Our family has maxed out our deductible with insurance company.”

Deductible or out of pocket maximum? DH doesn’t have your problem but he has had other health issues that have already put us at the out of pocket maximum for the family this year. With the way health insurance is going he is making sure everything that can be done is done this year on the insurance companies dime… Does your doctor recommend surgery?

6

Surgeons usually recommend surgery. :wink:
If the arthritis has resulted in a spur exacerbating the problem, surgery will be needed to find relief.
Success rate seems to depend on whether you take rehab seriously.
Which makes sense.
http://www.mountainproject.com/v/ulnar-nerve-surgery-success/106102188
I’d get a 2nd opinion if you haven’t already.
But fiscally it is a good plan to lump medical expenses.