Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

If you’re experiencing pain, numbness, and tingling in your ring and little fingers, particularly while sitting with your elbow on an arm rest or with repetitive elbow bending and straightening, you may be suffering from cubital tunnel syndrome. Cubital tunnel syndrome is a condition brought on by increased pressure on the ulnar nerve at the elbow. When the pressure becomes great enough to disturb the way the nerve works, then numbness, tingling, and pain may be felt in the elbow, forearm, hand, and fingers.

Cubital tunnel syndrome can develop in several ways. The ulnar nerve is positioned right next to the bone and has very little padding over it, so pressure on the bone can quickly transition to excess pressure on the nerve. Holding your elbow in a bent position for a long period of time, which may occur while you’re sleeping, can also create pressure on the nerve.