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Radial Tunnel Syndrome(Radial Nerve Entrapment)
by Cynthia M. Johnson, MA DefinitionRadial tunnel syndrome happens when there is abnormal pressure on the radial nerve. This can cause pain and weakness in the arm and hand. CausesThe radial nerve controls muscles of the forearm. It starts under the armpit and runs down the arm. It passes through a tunnel at the elbow. This tunnel is surrounded by tendons and muscles. Certain movements or overuse of the forearm can shrink the tunnel. This can irritate and press on the nerve. An injury or abnormal growth can also increase pressure on the nerve.
Risk FactorsThings that may raise the risk of this problem are:
SymptomsProblems may be:
DiagnosisThe doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. You may also be asked about the activities that you do. A physical exam will be done. It will focus on the arm. This is often enough to make the diagnosis. TreatmentIt will take 3 to 6 weeks to heal. Any underlying causes will need to be treated. The goal of treatment is to ease pain and promote healing. This will mean avoiding activities that are causing pain. Treatment may also include:
People who are not helped by these methods may need surgery. The goal of surgery is to make the radial tunnel bigger to ease pressure on the nerve. PreventionTo lower the risk of this problem:
RESOURCES:Family Doctor—American Academy of Family Physicians http://www.familydoctor.org National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke http://www.ninds.nih.gov CANADIAN RESOURCES:Health Canada http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca References:Lateral elbow tendinopathy. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/lateral-elbow-tendinopathy. Accessed February 2, 2021. Moradi A, Ebrahimzadeh M, et al. Radial tunnel syndrome, diagnostic and treatment dilemma. Arch Bone Jt Surg. 2015 Jul;3(3):156-162. Radial tunnel syndrome. Cleveland Clinic website. Available at: ...(Click grey area to select URL) Accessed February 2, 2021. Last reviewed December 2020 by
EBSCO Medical Review Board
Teresa Briedwell, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS Last Updated: 2/2/2021 | |