Hi, I am having no luck finding information about the injury for my elbow. I don't know if it is common or not; I can't find the right words in searching for it. It keeps coming back with info on entrapment; and that isn't my problem. So far, I have found no name for it.

I was involved in a car accident on 10/20/06; since the accident I had numbness and tingling in my left pinkie and ring finger. We did all the tests starting with a cervical EMG (and tested for carpal tunnel), then checking out my shoulder (just a snapping scapula)- and he found what he called an "ulnar nerve instability" and referred me to the ortho person who does elbows. After meeting "The elbow Guy", getting ex-rays, and finally an ultrasound - they have found that the fascia/tendon that keeps the ulnar nerve in the groove of the elbow is torn. Because of this nothing is holding the ulnar nerve in place; it keeps rolling in and out of the groove causing it to inflame and be very painful at times (twice the size it's suppose to be). It always hurts, but then there are days that if I use my arm or hand (like typing this), I have many days of recouping. I don't know what this is even called. I've opted for surgery (lots of other options have failed) but can't find the research to prepare myself. I want to know about the surgery, the recovery etc, so I can go prepared to my doc appt. I'm one of those that has to know all the ins and outs so I know what they are talking about.

It is continuing to get worse; my strength is pitiful, it aches and now the nerve pain is traveling up and down my arm. It travels into my pinky and ring fingers, my hand, and as far up as inside/behind my under arm. It aches and throbs; and finding ways to hold my arm are becoming few; finding a comfortable position to sleep in is pretty much impossible. By compensating I think it is weakening my shoulder; and I don't want to loose any more strength/mobility. I can't wait any longer and I'm afraid if I do that the weakness will get worse; I do hair on the side at home and doing that is painful. I am a stay at home mom to 5 little ones and I need all the mobility and strength I can keep.

Thanks and I look forward to your response :)