, and can regular use of a mobile device cause it? A doctor who has first-hand experience with it explains. )
HITTING A NERVE: Just what is cell phone elbow (cubital tunnel syndrome), and can regular use of a mobile device cause it? A doctor who has first-hand experience with it explains.
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As CNN and others are reporting, an increasing number of cell phone gabbers are complaining of an ailment called "cell phone elbow." Here are the symptoms: pain or numbness in the hand—especially the pinky and ring fingers. Not to be confused with tennis or golfer's elbow (forms of tendonitis), this new diagnosis stems from the nerves that run through the elbow.
With more than four billion cell phone contracts out across the globe, according to the International Telecommunication Union's annual report, is a larger health issue on the horizon or is it just hype?
A recent report in the Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine notes that "the exact incidence of cell phone elbow is not known, but anecdotal reports and our own clinical experience indicates that its incidence parallels the rise in the use of cell phones and computer workstations."
So are these mobile devices literally putting people's nerves at risk? To find out, we spoke with Michael Hausman, chief of hand and elbow surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. He talked to us on his cell from Turkey, where he's attending a conference.
[An edited transcript of the interview follows.]
Are you familiar with the term, "cell phone elbow"?
It's a popular moniker of cubital tunnel syndrome—neuritis, or inflammation of the ulnar nerve.
Is it related to tennis elbow?
It's completely unrelated. [Tennis elbow is tendonitis, and is caused by inflammation of the tendons.]
So, as a recognized condition, what are some of the symptoms of cubital tunnel syndrome?
The symptoms are pain or numbness or tingling in the little finger and in half of the adjacent finger—the [pinky-facing] side of the ring finger. Those are the fingers that are innervated—their sensation is supplied—by the ulnar nerve. The remaining fingers are supplied by the median nerve.
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8 Comments
Add CommentI hereby coin the terms cell-bow, cellbow, cel-bow, and celbow as nicknames for cubital tunnel syndrome. :)
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIt is quite alarming that many people are starting to develop cell phone elbow. Cell phone elbow, or cubital tunnel syndrome, is what orthopedics refer to as a repetitive strain injury, wherein a particular body part and group of bones and muscles are used too often, i.e. using cell phones too much, and treatment will cost you some quick payday loans. It affects the ulnar nerve, and one of the typical signs of cubital and carpal tunnel is hand weakness. Physical therapy is one of the biggest medical costs, and winding up with several thousand in doctor's bills because you won't put the phone away for five minutes. Save yourself from needing a loan 'til payday, and try to avoid cell phone elbow.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thishttp://personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/2009/06/03/cell-phone-elbow-cubital/
This isn't repetitive strain unless people are doing triceps extensions with their cell phones. Usually it is either people resting elbows on a table and putting pressure on the area of their "funny bone" or flexing their elbow too hard and stretching the nerve.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisTreatment-switch hands and ears, use blue tooth, move your neck to the side so there is less tension on your arm, don't rest your arms on a table or hard surface (e.g. car seat arms or arm rests).
I agree wholeheartedly. It would take an incredible amount of bending the elbow more than 90 degrees to cause the same effects as leaning on the elbow and putting pressure on the nerve. I get this while studying all the time, but if I stop resting on my elbow the tingling goes away.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWhilst I do not doubt that "cell phone elbow" exists I think that "cell phone neck" is far more prevalent, judging by the number of office workers I see every morning rushing along with their head clamping their right hand shoulder whilst trying to control baggage with both hands.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisCell phone elbow is also known as "cellbow" or its official name, cubital tunnel syndrome (CuTS).
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisCuTS is a repetitive stress injury (RSI) that can result in moderate to severe pain and numbness in the elbow and ring & little fingers. Untreated, CuTS can result in extreme pain, surgery or an unusable hand.
The problem occurs where the ulnar nerve passes around the elbow. The nerve rests in a groove called the cubital tunnel tucked behind the bony point on the elbow. Repeated stretching or hitting this nerve results in numbness, shocks and pain, similar to what you feel when you hit your "funny bone."
The ulnar nerve can be stretched and irritated by talking on a cellphone frequently or for long periods. If you cannot reduce your cell phone use, the next best solution is to buy an earpiece that allows you to talk on your phone hands-free.
If any of your readers are afflicted with cellbow, they may wish to visit our Cubital-Tunnel.com forums where they can share their experiences, ask questions and get answers about their condition.
There is no need or benefit in confusing the medical arena with slang terms for the very common, well researched problem of cubital tunnel syndrome. I have thoroughly discussed all aspects of this ailment on my educational website carpaltunnelrelief.net. Quite simply elbow flexion greater than 70% creates pressure upon and stretches the ulnar nerve at the elbow. Though loquacious people may well develop cubital tunnel syndrome from phone use, the overwhelming majority of people develop the problem from sleeping with the elbow bent. This is the rule especially with people who sleep face down (prone).
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisA message for the future:- In time, the word Gravity will be replaced by the words, Energy Fields. These Energy Fields are an Inward Containing Force, produced by the Nuclei of Atoms. They Encompass every Atom, and every accumilation of Atoms in existence.
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