Ulnar Nerve

I injured my ulnar nerve a few years ago after I had been doing a weightlifting program for almost a year...all of a sudden my pinky finger was on fire almost constantly...not much pain but it was obvious something was wrong...long story short, 4 months later had surgery to move ulnar nerve...still have some numbness in pinky and my hand is weak (this is appx 2 years post surgery)....bottom line, get to dr/orthopedic asap will probably need a nerve test...I was 44 not 16 or 17 like our sons now, but that's serious get him checked out asap

Thanks for your input. He has an appointment at 3 today.

please keep us updated...btw im not trying to scare you, hopefully his is much less serious...im not a doctor but just wanted to share my experience.  My exact diagnosis was cubital tunnel

My friend’s son had the same issue....it is correctable. 

Good to know. I’m trying to act like it’s no big deal to him but I’m a little worried.

Totally understand your feelings.  My friend said he would not mind talking to you about his son’s experience if you would. 

Great. I may PM you after we speak to the doctor. Thank you.

Scott Munroe posted:

Totally understand your feelings.  My friend said he would not mind talking to you about his son’s experience if you would. 

No problem!

My buddy had his Ulnar moved, he was a college pitcher.  I can ask if that's your son's diagnosis, but it was also 30 years ago, I'm sure a lot has changed.

Good luck to your boy!

My son had this surgery as a D1 college P/OF in January 2012. It started out as slight tingling when he was pitcher in college summer ball after his freshman year. PT and anti-inflammatory meds didn't help.

He ended up playing mostly 1B the first half of that year (his sophomore year) and by the summer of that year he pitched in the NECBL summer league with pretty good success.  

At the time he was a starting OF who was a relief pitcher. Not sure if your son's workout has anything to do with this injury. Looking back on it, my son's was likely overuse. If it proceeds to surgery I can fill you in more on my son's experience.

So the doctor did an X-ray, said his elbow looks normal, no calcium build up or bone changes. Said it was the ulnar nerve but said he wouldn’t call it carbitol tunnel syndrome yet.  He has no numbness or tingling as of now.  He said it indicates that the tendon covering it is starting to stretch and he would limit his throwing and his use of certain pitches.   It’s fall so we are going to take fall off from pitching and then have a coach evaluate his mechanics before he starts up in January. He just started throwing a slider. Wanting to see if there’s something wrong in his form on it.

Please keep us updated on his progress.

I lift every day. I know multiple people who lift every day. It’s not lifting related. Definitely look into the mechanics but if the nerve is slipping over the bone, it’s most likely going to need to be relocated if it keeps flaring up. We had 2 guys have the surgery this past year. Definitely better than the tommy John I went through but ofcourse no surgery is good

Good news!  Get rid of all the baseballs in your house (hide those as trophies), as he may have the urge to throw with his buddies.  3-4 months off and maybe some PT/strength training to protect that tendon?  Heck, maybe even an innings limit this spring for his HS?

my injury was caused by doing "skull crushers" mainly and just all the wear and tear associated with age