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The ulnar nerve is a completely new term for many, as not everyone is aware of both its occurrence and the important role it plays. He is responsible for the proper functioning of the muscles below the elbow joint. When it is damaged, the patient begins to experience extreme sensitivity, numbness in the hand, tingling or even burning sensation, which are collectively known as paraesthesia. Sometimes there are pain ailments.
Injuries to the ulnar nerve are most often the result of bone fractures or joint dislocations. Most often, in the initial stage of the pathology of this nerve, the patient experiences a kind of pressure that occurs in the area from the elbow to the wrist. In many cases, treatment is based on the administration of drugs and appropriate rehabilitation. Only when this does not help, the patient is qualified for surgery.
The ulnar nerve – role and meaning
The ulnar nerve is necessary for the proper sensation of stimuli and for managing the movement of the hand. It is he who supplies neuromotoric stimuli to muscles such as: the short palmar muscle, the elbow flexor of the wrist, the flexor of the fingers, interosseous muscles and a number of others. In turn, the sensory innervation covers the skin of the ball and little finger on the palmar side and a part of the ring finger on the elbow side, and on the dorsal side of the 2,5 finger, starting with the little finger.
The ulnar nerve – ailments
If there is abnormal pressure on the ulnar nerve, it is known as the ulnar nerve canal syndrome. It is a disease involving the narrowing of the elbow canal. The cause of such a condition may be prolonged pressure on the nerve, mechanical injuries, various inflammations, as well as progressive degenerative changes in the joints. Stenosis of the ulnar canal may also be a complication of diabetic conditions, congenital defects of the elbow joint, or it may occur as a result of the location of a tumor in the ulnar nerve canal.
The development of this type of changes is largely due to excessive alcohol consumption, hormonal changes, as well as various bacterial and viral infections. This disease most often appears in middle-aged men, especially those who work physically.
The ulnar nerve – symptoms of the disease
The ulnar nerve canal syndrome is accompanied by severe pain in the area of the elbow that radiates towards the hand and increases as the forearm is bent. The glomerulus muscles are very often atrophied. To put it simply – the patient is not able to spread his fingers so that they resemble the letter V.
At night, pain in the elbow joint and forearm disturb patients’ sleep. Numbness and tingling are very common, and the fingers of the hand lose their strength. Over time, the patient notices a weakening of the strength of the fingers, and then of the entire hand. The next stage is the loss of the grasping abilities of the hand, this becomes an obstacle that destroys the everyday comfort of life. The patient may have trouble grasping small objects at first, and with the passage of time and if the disease is not treated, difficulties even in holding a glass may appear. Some patients also develop severe sensory disturbances on the inside of the affected forearm.
Doctors very often distinguish the stages of the ulnar canal syndrome, which they do according to a specific Dellon scale. The first stage, i.e. the mildest form of the disease, is only temporary tingling and almost imperceptible weakness in the affected limb. In the second stage, there are noticeable tingling and numbness in the upper limb, as well as its marked weakness, which can no longer be ignored. The last, third stage of the disease is persistent sensory disturbance, which over time leads to complete nerve paralysis.
The ulnar nerve – treatment of disorders
The treatment process for the ulnar nerve is quite long. Pharmacological measures, physical therapy and kinesiotherapy are used. In difficult cases, when long-term therapy does not bring results, surgery to decompress the ulnar nerve is necessary. In very rare cases, it is necessary to perform necrolysis, which is a procedure that destroys nerve fibers. The patient is given a substance that irreversibly destroys the damaged nervous structure.
Patients must absolutely avoid strong movements involving the elbow as this stretches the nerve and increases pressure. Sometimes the joint is temporarily immobilized. It is also necessary to take an additional dose of vitamins, especially those from group B, which regenerate the nervous structures and restore proper functions. In the face of severe pain, painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs should be taken.