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SALT LAKE CITY -- You may think those Bluetooth earpieces look silly, but people who wear them may have the last laugh if you start to feel what some people call "cell phone elbow."
'Cell phone elbow' explained
The term "cell phone elbow" is more of a lay-term, but tingling and numbness in the fingers caused by prolonged flexing of the elbow is a real thing, and it's similar to carpal tunnel syndrome.
"Cubital tunnel syndrome is also a pressure or entrapment problem of your funny bone nerve at the elbow," explained orthopedic surgeon Dr. Dan Hammon.
He says even though many people haven't heard of cubital tunnel syndrome, it's the second most common nerve problem in the arm.
However, Hammon says most people who have it have a genetic disposition for it, or have a previous elbow injury. He doesn't believe cell phones are a cause.
"If you have the predisposition for cubital tunnel syndrome, it (your hand) is going to go numb on you. So, the question is: Does talking on the phone cause it or just aggravate it? Well, in my opinion, it mainly aggravates it," Hammon said.
He says if prolonged cell phone usage was a main cause of cubital tunnel, cases would have likely gone up along with the popularity of cell phones.
"I'm not seeing a huge number of people over the last few years telling me, ‘Oh, my hands. It's mainly because I talk on my phone,'" Hammon said.
If there are cases where prolonged flexing of the elbow is causing cubital tunnel, he says it's a very small percentage.
Treatment for cubital tunnel syndrome
If you do experience cubital tunnel symptoms, you'll start to feel tingling and numbness in your ring and small fingers, as opposed to carpal tunnel where you feel it in your larger fingers.
For mild cases, the old saying holds true: If something hurts when you do it, don't do it.
"Don't hold your arm in a flexed position as long, change hands, use an earpiece or speakerphone, something like that. Just don't hold it flexed as long," Hammon said.
For moderate cases, Hammon may recommend the patient sleep with a pillow or a splint on the arm. For severe cases, surgery may be needed.
Anti-inflammatory medicines may not work very well for cubital tunnel because these drugs don't do much for nerve problems.
E-mail: pnelson@ksl.com
