Pain in your arm below your elbow: Let's talk about Radial Tunnel Syndrome

Do you also feel a strange, throbbing pain on the back of your arm, just below your elbow? It's like a nagging pain that you want to shake off, but it won't go away. Do you sometimes feel like this pain increases when you lift something heavy or turn your arm? Then you may also have a condition called 'Radial Tunnel Syndrome'. Don't worry, let's talk about it simply.

What is Radial Tunnel Syndrome?

Simply put, this is a condition caused by compression or impingement of the radial nerve, which is one of the three main nerves in our hand.

Imagine this nerve, which is like a water pipe, traveling through a narrow tunnel made of muscles and tissues at the elbow. We call this the 'radial tunnel'. If for some reason there is swelling or tightness inside this tunnel, the nerve gets pinched. It's like someone stepping on a water pipe. That's when we start to feel pain.

What are the symptoms of this?

The main thing is the sharp, stabbing pain that starts just below the elbow and starts in the forearm. It's just a constant, nagging pain. For some people, the pain can travel down the arm, all the way to the wrist .

Over time, this condition can weaken the muscles in your forearm and cause a loss of strength in your wrist . It can be difficult to grip or lift certain objects. The pain can also worsen at night while you're sleeping. Some people may develop a condition called 'wrist drop', where they can't lift their wrist .

The symptoms of a condition called 'tennis elbow' are very similar to this, so it is very important to explain your symptoms to your doctor.

Why is this happening?

As mentioned earlier, the main cause is swelling inside the radial tunnel, which compresses the nerve. There are several reasons why this swelling can occur.

• Repeated repetitive movements: Think of someone who types on a computer all day, or a mechanic who works with a screwdriver. Repeated repetitive movements can cause the tissues in that area to swell.
• Frequent pushing and pulling: Like throwing a cricket ball. First, you pull your arm back and then quickly forward. This continuous pushing and pulling can also irritate this nerve.
• A hard blow to the elbow or forehead: A direct hit to that area can cause swelling.
• Bending the wrist excessively or gripping something tightly.

Who is most at risk of developing this condition?

Although this condition can develop in anyone, some people are at higher risk.

• It usually occurs more often in people between the ages of 30 and 50 .
• Women are more likely to develop this condition than men.
• People with poor strength and flexibility in their hands and wrists .
• People who don't warm up properly before playing sports.
• People with diabetes.
• Those with an underactive thyroid.
• People with tumors or ganglion cysts on their hands.
• People with swelling (edema) or fluid buildup in the hands.

How do you find this, Doctor?

When you go to see a doctor, he will first ask you about the pain. How it started, when it gets worse, etc. Then he will examine your arm. The doctor will squeeze your elbow and try to find the exact spot where the nerve is pinched.

There are several special tests to diagnose this condition:

• Resistance tests: The doctor will apply a small amount of force to your thumb and middle finger. If there is any pain, this may be the condition.
• Rule of nine test: In this, the patient presses on 9 specific points around the elbow. If pain occurs when pressing on some of the points, that is also a sign.

There is no blood test or scan that can 100% confirm this condition. Therefore, your doctor may recommend other tests to rule out other conditions. For example:

• X-ray tests
• MRI scans
• Nerve conduction study
• Electromyography (EMG)

What are the treatments for this?

The best and most important thing to do is to stop doing the activity that is causing the pain. Give your hand some rest . Most people will recover within about six weeks with rest and the following treatments.

The main goal of treatment is to relieve symptoms and prevent them from coming back. If your job is causing this condition, you may need to consider changing your work routine and taking breaks during work.

Will surgery be necessary?

If none of these things work, a doctor will consider surgery ('radial tunnel release') as a last resort. This is done to free the trapped nerve. But this is not necessary in most cases.