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You may have cubital tunnel syndrome if your pinky or ring finger feels tingly or numb, especially at night.
Cubital tunnel syndrome is when the ulnar nerve in your elbow fails to function properly, causing various symptoms. The tingling can sometimes get so intense that it becomes painful.
Wearing a splint while you sleep can help. If it doesn't get better, you may need surgery to stop permanent loss of feeling.
One of the most vital nerves in your arm is called the ulnar nerve. It travels from your neck to the tips of your pinky and ring fingers. This nerve helps you feel things with these fingers and enables you to move your hand.
The nerve goes through a tunnel with a band at the top formed by bones at your elbow. This area is known as the cubital tunnel. Cubital tunnel syndrome occurs when nerves in this tunnel do not work well.
Cubital tunnel syndrome happens when the ulnar nerve at your elbow doesn’t work properly. Experts believe people born with a narrower tunnel have a higher chance of experiencing cubital tunnel syndrome.
Cubital tunnel syndrome is the most common nerve problem in the arm after carpal tunnel syndrome.
Early signs of cubital tunnel syndrome include tingling in your ring and pinky fingers, especially at night. Later, you may lose feeling in these fingers, and they might start to curl. If the feeling and muscle control in your hand gets worse, you could have trouble with small hand movements.
If your symptoms only happen at night, you can try wearing a splint to keep your elbow straight or wrap your arm in a towel or blanket. You could also put your hand in a pillowcase to stop your elbow from bending.
If numbness in your ring and pinky fingers continues even after using the splint, surgery may be an option. You may also consider surgery if the numbness takes a long time to go away or becomes constant.
Your doctor will discuss your symptoms with you and examine your hand before diagnosing you.
They might suggest a test called a nerve conduction study to see how well your nerve is working. Some doctors also use ultrasound to look at your nerve.
If your symptoms only happen at night, wearing a splint or brace to keep your elbow straight can help you sleep better.
If your ulnar nerve isn’t working properly or a brace no longer helps, surgery might be needed. During surgery, the doctor will cut the band that forms the top of the cubital tunnel to relieve pressure on the nerve.
Often, a brace or surgery provides quick relief from the nighttime tingling associated with cubital tunnel syndrome.
However, if you have constant numbness or weakness in your ring and pinky fingers, these changes might be permanent. Your nerve could continue to improve for two to three years after surgery, but sometimes, tingling may get worse before it gets better.
In severe cases, the nerve may never fully recover, and you will still experience some numbness or weakness. Your doctor can discuss with you what you can expect during the recovery period.
It's important to keep using your hand for everyday activities right after surgery. This will help prevent stiffness and speed up your recovery.
By UPMC Editorial Staff. Last reviewed on 2024-12-04 by Teun Teunis, MD, PhD.
