Radial Tunnel Syndrome - How Rehabilitation Can Help

Radial Tunnel Syndrome is caused when the radial nerve that passes through the radial tunnel in the elbow is compressed, squeezed or pinched. This nerve controls various muscles in the forearm and hand. So whenever any pressure is felt on the nerve, it causes pain and discomfort. A sudden direct blow may also result in affecting the nerve and causing pain.

Non Conservative treatments have shown satisfactory improvements in patients. But in cases where no significant improvement has been felt, surgery is advised.

Nonsurgical Rehabilitation -
If conservative treatment is successful, you will see improvement within 4-6 weeks. But wearing wrist band or strap, elbow pad or elbow splints are always helpful. You must continue wearing either as per the guideline of your physician. Healthy diet is a must along with few prescribed exercises. But activities involving repeated movements of the hand and forearm, heavy grasping and twisting motions must be limited.

Your physical therapist would assist you in performing few exercises. He will design simpler ways to perform your tasks without affecting your elbow or nerve. Therapist will also teach ways to avoid future problems. Your therapist will work on strengthening your muscles and achieving normal functioning of the elbow.

Rehabilitation After Surgery -
Following a surgery, the elbow is placed in a removable splint. You will need to attend sessions for 6-8 weeks with the occupational therapist or the physical therapist. Complete recovery would require 3-4 months. You can start activities with your forearm after a week of the surgery. But you should not strain your affected arm so early. Your therapists will use ice packs, massaging techniques for the soft-tissue and hands-on stretching. These would help in improving the range of motion.

After the removal of the stitches, you may start with strengthening your hand and forearm but very carefully. Squeeze and stretch special putty, perform some isometric exercises. These would improve the strength of the forearm and hand without giving any strain to the tissues near the radial tunnel.
Stabilizing your muscles is also very important. This is done by your therapist not only at the affected site (elbow) but also at the wrist and shoulder, in fact the entire arm. Improvement is required for fine motor control and dexterity of the hand.

How Is Radial Tunnel Syndrome Different from a Tennis Elbow ?

• The location of the pain is the most deciding factor.
  
  • In tennis elbow, the pain starts from the spot where the tendon attaches to the lateral epicondyle
  • In radial tunnel syndrome, the pain is centered and it is almost two inches down the arm. It is felt over the spot where the radial nerve goes under the supinator muscle
• Type of pain may also be taken into account during the detection.
  
  • In Radial tunnel syndrome, more achy type of pain is felt in the muscles of the forearm