4 days ago
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For The Union-Tribune
Carpal versus cubital
When your hand starts to tingle or go numb, it’s common to blame carpal tunnel syndrome, a condition caused by compression of the median nerve at the wrist. CPS can be triggered by repetitive wrist tasks, pregnancy, obesity or underlying conditions like diabetes. It afflicts 1 to 5% of the general population. Treatments range from splinting and activity modification to medications and surgery.
But there is a condition called cubital tunnel syndrome that produces some similar symptoms. Rather than involving the wrist’s median nerve, the ulnar nerve in the elbow is compressed, resulting in numbness and tingling in some fingers along with aching pain in the elbow. Effective treatment may be substantially different from that for carpal tunnel.
It’s important to get the correct diagnosis to assure appropriate treatment. There are other conditions with symptoms similar to carpal tunnel, including pronator syndrome, in which the median nerve in the forearm is compressed, and diabetic neuropathy.
Likewise, Guyon’s canal syndrome (ulnar nerve compression at the wrist) and thoracic outlet syndrome (pressure on nerves or blood vessels near the collarbone) can mimic cubital tunnel syndrome.
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