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Medically known as cubital tunnel syndrome, cell phone elbow
is numbness, tingling and pain in the forearm and hand
caused by compression of the ulnar nerve, which passes along
the bony bump on the inside of the elbow. Prolonged flexing
of the elbow, such as when a cell phone is held to the ear,
puts tension on the ulnar nerve. In susceptible people,
holding the bent-elbow position for extended periods can
lead to decreased blood flow, inflammation and compression
of the nerve. "Repetitive, sustained stretching of the nerve
is like stepping on a garden hose," said the director of the
Cleveland Clinic's Hand and Upper Extremity Center. The
first symptoms patients often notice include numbness,
tingling or aching in the forearm and hand. As symptoms
progress, they can include a loss of muscle strength,
coordination and mobility that can make writing and typing
difficult. In chronic, untreated cases, the ring finger can
become clawed. Though there are no solid figures on how many
people have cell phone elbow, hand specialists say the
incidence is increasing along with the 3.3 billion cell
phone service contracts active worldwide, the researcher
said. Still, the disorder is less common than carpal tunnel
syndrome, a related condition that causes pain in the hand
and wrist. Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by compression
of the median nerve that runs from the forearm into the
hand. "Cubital tunnel is the second most common compression
syndrome we see," said an occupational therapist and
certified hand specialist at William Beaumont Hospital in
Royal Oak, Mich. Most people who get cubital tunnel syndrome
are middle-aged or older. Women get cubital tunnel syndrome
more often than men -- and it's probably not because they
talk more. Although the precise reasons are unknown, women
may be more susceptible due to hormonal fluctuations or
their anatomy, the scientist said. And too much talking
isn't the only cause of cubital tunnel syndrome. Other
causes may include sleeping with the elbows bent and tucked
up into the chest, sitting at a desk with the elbows flexed
at an angle greater than 90 degrees and driving with the
elbow propped on the window for extended periods, he said.
In most cases, minor lifestyle changes can help alleviate
symptoms, including using a hands-free headset for cell
phone. If sleep position is the problem, an elbow pad to
keep the arm straighter at night can help. More serious
cases are referred to an occupational therapist, who may use
ultrasound to loosen scar tissue that can form around the
nerve as a result of the inflammation, as well as
stretching, deep massage and "nerve-gliding" exercises to
reduce pressure on the nerve, according to the lead
scientist. Doctors may also use anti-inflammatory injections
or surgery. |