Nerve Entrapment (ulnar nerve)

Diabetics can heal slower. Most of that is due to higher blood sugars though. I would hate having guessing surgery. Have you considered trying a good acupuncturist? Or even a chiropractor? I would look for an acupuncturist that is actually a doctor and has experience, it does make a difference. Different chiropractors can vary a lot too. I've had tendonitis and a trigger finger fixed by my acupuncturist, I've had numbness in my little finger and numbness in my arm fixed by a neck adjustment by my chiropractor. I have a spine and a back specialist that have literally told me to use the chiro and acupuncturist if it helps. They can sometimes do wonders.

I agree with every word of the above post. So much we can do that doesn't involve surgery, which IMO is a last resort.

I have that and had the surgery too. Mine was constant numbness/slight pins and needles along with being highly sensitive to cold items touching it in my little finger and that side of my ringer finger. I had some muscle wastage in my thumb and the start of grip issues. Luckily in my non dominant hand.

It started years before type 2 diagnosis but apparently I was heading that way. Unfortunately due to where I was living at the time it was very difficult to follow up the problem and I ignored it for years. When I eventually addressed the problem my nerve conduction tests were also unable to pinpoint a location for the problem. The surgeon went ahead anyway and did a cubical tunnel nerve release at the elbow. I had surgery under a nerve block rather than general (at my request). It wasn’t too bad to recover from but it didnt improve things any. The surgeon said leaving the problem so long before the surgery made it significantly less likely to reverse existing damage. He also was adamant that it would have continued to deteriorate if I hadn’t done it and in the 5 yrs since it hasn’t changed or got worse. The only issue is that knocking that elbow is even more “funny” that the other. I guess the relocated nerve is even more exposed.

i coincidentally had nerves studies done on the other arm last year and the dr was curious to follow up the first and this time found some damage but was again unable to pinpoint where.

would I do it again? Maybe but I’d explore the options mentioned above first and I’d do something sooner rather than ignore it. Living with permanent mild pins and needles is annoying.

A couple of points I’ve also thought of.

Taking pain relief might make it feel better but doesn’t necessarily address the problem that “might” be getting worse/more permanent as it was in my case. Personally I’d try and identify the actual cause and address it rather than assume it’s hopeless and only manage the pain if possible.

Whilst some diabetics will have nerves in poor condition you might or might not be one of those. Sweeping assumptions might be useful on a population basis but says little about you as an individual, especially if you‘ve always had good control.

I've had this for years on and off - possibly caused by my habit of leaning on my left elbow while using a mouse in the right hand at work for years.
My previous GP wrongly diagnosed it as carpel tunnel even through the symptoms are different and offered me a steroid injection in my wrist.
I mentioned it to my neurologist this year (I see him for another issue) and he said he didn't think surgery was the best option as it doesn't often help.
When it gets worse I try to remember to hang my arm down instead of resting the elbow on anything, and to keep that arm straight in bed - this helps a little.
I'm on pregabalin for rest legs syndrome/fibromyalgia and haven't noticed it helps me with the elbow pain or tingling in my little and ring fingers but if offered originally for this (cubital tunnel syndrome) I might have tried it.