Nerve compression

Need to know

• What are the symptoms of nerve compression? icon plus

  Tingling, numbness, radiating pain and loss of limb function are common signs of nerve compression.

  Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome are tingling or numbness in the your fingers and weakness — you may start to drop objects. This is because the median nerve that travels from the arm to the hand becomes trapped in the central part of the wrist.

  Symptoms of cubital tunnel syndrome are tingling, numbness, pain and weakness in the wrist, hand and fingers. Here, the ulnar nerve, which runs down the entire arm, becomes trapped at the elbow and cannot serve the hand properly.

• How is nerve compression syndrome diagnosed? icon plus

  Your consultant will discuss your symptoms with you and help to make a diagnosis. They'll ask whether you have any numbness or lack of function in your limbs. Based on this, they may order further tests. Ultrasound scans and neurophysiology studies are an effective way to diagnose a trapped nerve.

• Potential treatment options icon plus

  Treatment varies, depending on the severity and cause of the nerve compression. Anti-inflammatory medicine may provide some pain relief from trapped nerves. Oral corticosteroids and steroid injections can help with pain too. Carpal tunnel can be treated with release surgery. Here, the transverse carpal ligament is cut to release pressure on the median nerve and relieve pain.
  
  Cubital tunnel syndrome can also be treated with surgery. At times, the trapped nerve is relocated from the cubital tunnel to sit just in front of it. This frees the trapped nerve and provides pain relief.