It usually happens without notice or warning. You are just moving along, minding your own business when, POW! you hit what everyone crazily refers to as your "funny bone."
At this point, I am confident you are not laughing. I am pretty sure you know the feeling about which I speak. You get that sudden tap on just the right spot behind your elbow, and before you know it, you have a mix of pain and a tingling sensation shooting straight down your forearm.
Interestingly enough, your “funny bone” is not even a bone at all. According to Dr. Jonathan Cluett, practicing orthopedic surgeon in Massachusetts and expert on About.com, what you are experiencing when this part of your elbow is hit is a reaction from the ulnar nerve, which passes around the back of the elbow. This nerve sits atop the hard elbow, and without a lot of fatty tissue surrounding it, you are bound to strike it inadvertently from time to time. (What a place to put a nerve, right? The nerve!)
To be more exact, the ulnar nerve is one of the three main nerves in the arm. It starts at the collarbone and leads down the inside of your upper arm. From there, it extends behind the inside of the elbow. It is at this spot that you can feel the nerve just beneath your skin. From there, the ulnar nerve moves under muscles located on your inner forearm and leads its way to the side of your palm that boasts the little finger. Now you know why a blow to your funny bone can make your pinkie feel a bit weird.
According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) at www.orthoinfo.aaos.org, sometimes the ulnar nerve can become compressed, causing discomfort or pain. Some contributing factors to this include a prior fracture to the elbow, bone spurs, cysts, or any swelling surrounding the elbow joint. (That is clearly taking that “funny bone” feeling to a whole new level, isn’t it?)
How do you know if your “funny bone” (or ulnar nerve) might be compressed? The experts at the AAOS indicate if you have tingling sensations similar to those when your foot falls asleep in your ring finger or pinkie finger when your elbow is bent, that could signal a possible compressed ulnar nerve. The inside of your elbow might hurt. Sometimes, just manipulating your fingers or handling objects with them can be a challenge. (This type of compressed nerve is not to be confused with the nerve associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. The median nerve that is affected with that condition typically makes for a tingling feeling in the thumb and the adjacent two digits.)
People may notice symptoms from ulnar nerve compression after sleeping all night with a bent elbow, for example. If symptoms persist that interfere with normal activity for more than a couple of weeks, it is best to see an orthopedic doctor for a correct diagnosis. He or she will then examine the arm to ascertain the point of nerve compression. Sometimes, a mere tap to the “funny bone” that elicits that all-too-familiar tingling and painful sensation can signal a compressed ulnar nerve.
While x-rays alone will not give evidence as to a compressed nerve, the doctor may examine other parts of your arm, from the shoulder to the hand. Through radiological diagnosis, he or she may discover bone spurs, evidence of arthritis, or any other anomalies that could affect the ulnar nerve.
Non-surgical treatment options may include simple measures such as advising the patient not to rest on his or her elbow; keeping the elbow straight when asleep; or perhaps wearing a special elbow brace. In some cases, anti-inflammatory medicines may be prescribed to assist with the reduction of swelling.
I do know this much. My nearly 105-year-old grandma either has no ulnar nerves in her arms or ulnar nerves that have become so de-sensitized over the years from elbowing people out of her way at the buffet table that she barely notices it when her “funny bone” has been under attack. Come to think of it, in the 45 years I have known my grandma, she has not once complained about hitting her “funny bone.” I have long known she is a rare breed, and now I am beginning to question the existence of actual ulnar nerves in her arms. Maybe all of those years cheering from the stands at the University of Kansas football games, arms in the air, flowing side to side, have kept that “funny bone” perfectly in line. I, however, tend to hit my ulnar nerve all too frequently. I believe I need to go find a buffet or a college football game.