Chairs Cause Ulnar Nerve Problems And Muscle Atrophy?

Undergoing Surgery For A Pinched Ulnar Nerve

The following post from our Muscle Atrophy & Ulnar Nerve Damage page is from a man who has finger muscle wasting, ulnar nerve problems and neck problems. He is facing an ulnar nerve relocation surgery this Friday.

Chairs Cause Ulnar Nerve Problems And Muscle Atrophy?

Date: 02/20/2012	Submitted by: Dave

I'm a quadriplegic. Incomplete C6-C7 level. Accident occurred in Oct. '98. My left hand was most severely impaired with minimal use of the thumb and other fingers just barely able to make a fist. But muscle tone in the fingers was pretty normal. Thumb muscle on palm side has always been mushy since accident though.

Starting in Sept. 2010, I started noticing sudden atrophy in my left fore-arm to where if I twisted my fore-arm outward, the flesh would sink in between the Ulna and Radial bones in the fore-arm. At around this same time, I started working out with a 10 lb. dumbbell. Just doing some curls and presses above my head and such while sitting in my computer chair. I also got a new computer chair at the time where the armrests and the pads on them, hit my elbow and fore-arm in a strange way. And my hand started to little form itself around the front edge of the armrest. Fingers curled around the tip, if you know what I mean. Over the course of the year, up until about Oct. 2011, I'd go thru spurts of nerve pain and burn in my hand. Because of the way that chair forced me to rest my arm and hand on its armrest. I also started getting this "grinding" feeling in my neck whenever I'd move it in a certain way. This started in early Oct. as well.

Well, over Christmas 2011, I got a new chair in the attempt of changing that problem. Unfortunately, I think this new chair is making the problem worse.

Since the first of the year, 2012, my left hand has withered away to almost nothing. My palm muscles are practically gone, which makes it hurt when I walk with my crutches or walker. And all my fingers have lost nearly all strength. So much so that some of the knuckle joints bend back the wrong way because there's not enough muscle underneath the fingers to hold them curved downward towards the palm. In short, my whole left hand feels like it has lost all structural integrity, if that makes any sense. Doesn't feel like a hand anymore. Feels like a derelict thumb and a bunch of loose nearly boney fingers.

And now, my right hand which was normally around 70% function after my accident is experiencing some of the same problems. It's getting thin and the pinky and ring fingers are starting to get weak and whatnot. My right wrist area has also gotten thin and boney in recent months as well.

As far as treatment goes, my GP has suggested the Ulnar Nerve relocation surgery, and the Orthopedic doctor is saying that that may not be the full problem, especially after he looked at my MRI from January. Thinks I may need neck surgery due to possibility of bulging discs or something. Ironically, all these problems started about the time I got my first smartphone in Aug. 2010. Started looking down a lot while resting elbows on my armrests.

I have a possible ulnar nerve surgery this Friday supposedly. Not sure yet. No confirmed appointment has been made yet. All I know is that I'm at my wits end as my problem seems to get worse by the day, and I ain't kidding. Thanks. Dave

Tummy Tuck RESPONSE
Date: 02/20/2012	Submitted by: Tanner

Dave,

Sorry to hear about your problems.

I know what you mean about the chairs. I am a little paranoid about how I rest my arms on chairs, tables and desks for fear of putting pressure on the ulnar nerve.

Probably the best chair that we can could have for working on the computer would be an armless chair or one with big fluffy pillows for arm rests.

The neurosurgeon gave me the choice of having the ulnar nerve relocation surgery too, but I chose to put it off for as long as I could thinking that I could just be careful how and where I put my arms for the rest of my life. So far it has worked for me.

Sounds like if your problems keep getting worse it might be time to do something about it. Kind of scary though isn't it?

Good luck with your surgery on Friday if you decide to go for it.

Best regards,

Tanner

Update: 2/22/12

Went to see the neurologist today. After giving him my complete history from my accident in '98 to where we're at today, what he basically said was that due to some rapid weight loss that I had in 2010 (dropped ~30 lbs during the summer due to a low sodium diet), I lost the "fatty" cushion around the elbow and ulnar nerve. I also apparently am not getting enough protein. Which is true as my meat portions have decreased over the past 2 years.

So before we do any surgery, he's gonna do a nerve conduction test on both arms, and an MRI on both elbows, just to see what's going on and see how bad the damage is to the ulnar nerve. Got the conduction tests scheduled for next Monday at his office by him personally as this is kind of a emergency. Apparently his staff couldn't get me in any sooner than a month from now. But he's gonna do it himself next Monday so, that's good.

Secondly he told me that nerves are like insulated electrical chords. If the damage is just to the insulation, nerve healing time is 3-6 months. If the damage is down to the wire, the actual nerve, it could take 2-3 years, which is what the doctors say at the outset of a spinal injury. So at the lest, I'm looking at the rest of the year being in recovery. At worst, I'm starting all over again.
Dave

Response - Dave,

Thanks for the update.

That makes sense about the weight loss and the ulnar nerve. It probably pertains to me too.

Good information about nerves. A lot of people ask about how long it takes nerves to regrow. I'll add the info to the website.

Good luck on your Monday tests.

Tanner

Please Send Us Your Comments & Questions We will reply as soon as possible
Name:
Email address:
Comments

Please note: Your comments & questions may be posted on this web site. Your name and email address will not be published. Please visit our Tummy Tuck Forum for all reader comments.

Chairs Cause Ulnar Nerve Problems And Muscle Atrophy?

Ulnar Nerve Relocation Surgery

Chairs Cause Ulnar Nerve Problems And Muscle Atrophy?

Chairs Cause Ulnar Nerve Problems And Muscle Atrophy?

Tummy Tuck RESPONSE