Radial Tunnel Syndrome (Radial Nerve Entrapment)
What is it?
Radial Tunnel Syndrome is a condition thought to be a compression injury to the radial nerve, which runs by the bones and muscles of the forearm and elbow. This condition can often be confused with tennis elbow. It most often occurs due to repetitive motions such as pushing or pulling, twisting, gripping with the hand or bending the wrist. It can also be caused by a direct trauma to the area or injury.
Symptoms
Radial Tunnel Syndrome symptoms include, cutting, piercing, or stabbing pain at the top of the forearm or back of the hand, especially when you try to extend or straighten your wrist and fingers. Unlike the cubital tunnel syndrome patients rarely feel numbness or tingling because this particular nerve affects the muscle. The pain worsens when the arm is being used.
Treatment
Treatment options include rest, immobilization with a splint, cushioning of the nerve with an elbow pad, and anti-inflammatory medications. Your physician may perform an EMG (electromyography), a nerve conduction study or both to properly diagnosis this condition. This will allow them to identify the area of nerve damage and determine the severity of damage that occurred to the nerve. In some cases surgery may be performed to alleviate the pressure on the radial nerve.
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