How is it diagnosed?
Someone would complain of the symptoms, and there would be a sensitivity if one pressed or tapped over the ulnar nerve at the elbow.
How is it caused? Is there actually a "tunnel" in your elbow?
The ulnar nerve passes through a tunnel right at your elbow. You can feel the bump on the inside of your elbow. Right adjacent to that is called the cubital tunnel.
How is it different from carpal tunnel syndrome?
It's the same in the sense that it's pressure on the nerve. The anatomy is a little different, but the nerve is being pressed. The pain and tingling is the nerve's way of telling you it's uncomfortable.
Are cell phones to blame for cubital tunnel syndrome?
It's not actually caused by anything. There are hundreds of millions of people who talk on cell phones who are never symptomatic. Someone who gets this has a predisposition to have the problem. Some people are born with a little extra muscle that not everyone has, or they're born with a narrower cubital tunnel.
The use of the cell phone doesn't cause this problem. A person with a predisposition to this problem may become symptomatic when the elbow is flexed beyond 90 degrees. That can happen at night when we sleep or [are] performing a task like talking on the cell phone. Since we all tend to sleep in the fetal position, to say sleeping causes it, that's absurd.
How is it treated or prevented?
You could use a hands-free device or an earphone. In fact, that's the first treatment that we recommend to patients.
If the symptoms persist, despite keeping the elbow straighter—where someone is really experiencing persistent numbness or tingling—the nerve will suffer more permanent damage [if ignored]. So occasional numbness is benign, but persistent tingling and numbness will lead to more permanent changes.
If they're still symptomatic, then there is a surgical procedure to alleviate the problem: Make a slit and open the tunnel so the nerve has more breathing space.
Have you ever seen or treated patients with this syndrome?
I'm sitting here talking to you, and my little finger is numb. I have the condition. It's pretty common.
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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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