What Is Cubital Tunnel Syndrome?
7. Treatment
The first step in treating cubital tunnel syndrome is usually to avoid activities that cause or provoke the symptoms, giving the ulnar nerve a chance to rest and heal. Steroid injections are generally effective at reducing inflammation but are rarely used for cubital tunnel syndrome because of the risk that they could cause further damage to the nerve tissue. If the symptoms are relatively new, your doctor may recommend non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications instead, such as naproxen or ibuprofen. Icing the elbow may also help reduce inflammation. Some doctors recommend nerve gliding exercises, but not everyone is convinced of their effectiveness.
If symptoms are severe or do not respond to other treatments, surgery may be necessary to treat ulnar neuropathy. One of the most common surgeries used to treat cubital tunnel syndrome is an ulnar nerve transposition. This involves moving the ulnar nerve from its normal position along the back of the elbow around to the front. Other surgical options include medial epicondylectomy, which involves removing the bony ridge of the elbow that stretches the nerve, or cubital tunnel release, which relieves the compression and gives the nerve more room.
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