Get Back Into the Swing of Things; Keep Ulnar Tunnel Syndrome Out of Your Game

Don’t let wrist pain keep you off the green. Ulnar tunnel syndrome can make it hard to grip your club, control your swing, or even enjoy a round of golf—let alone other favorite activities like biking or lifting weights. This is caused by the ulnar nerve, one of the main nerves in your hand, which controls both sensation and movement in key parts of your hand.

Ulnar tunnel syndrome develops when the ulnar nerve in the wrist becomes compressed. This creates pressure on the nerve, which can feel like tingling or numbness in your pinky and the outer side of your ring finger. This can weaken your grip and make swinging a club—or lifting anything—painful. Repetitive wrist stress, chronic pressure on the hand, or sports-related injuries—like smashing the ground with a golf club and fracturing the hamate bone—are common culprits. A benign cyst in the wrist can also pinch the nerve, creating similar symptoms.

• If it is determined that the pain is being caused by wrist positioning, nonsurgical treatments can help you get back into the swing of things:
  Anti-inflammatory medications
  Bracing or splinting
  Physical therapy

If the compression comes from a cyst, growth, or fracture, our hand surgeons may recommend surgery to relieve pressure and restore full hand function. Our goal is to get you back to doing what you love—and back to unleashing your swing—without pain slowing you down.

If you are experiencing hand pain or another wrist injury, please schedule an appointment online with one of our specialists at Desert Orthopaedic Center or call (702) 731-4088.