Anterior Transposition of the Ulnar Nerve Surgery.

[Xdrp]

I will be getting my ulnar nerve moved to a different place from under my elbow around to the top. (Really rough summary of the surgery, haha) Apparently this was the cause of the pains in my elbow.

Doctor said I won't be doing any lifting for 3 months after the surgery... I just have a couple questions for you guys:

- How much muscle am I going to lose in this time?
- Do you know of any good exercises that I can keep doing without my elbow?

Thanks in advance.

[DJAuto]

I will be getting my ulnar nerve moved to a different place from under my elbow around to the top. (Really rough summary of the surgery, haha) Apparently this was the cause of the pains in my elbow.

Doctor said I won't be doing any lifting for 3 months after the surgery... I just have a couple questions for you guys:

- How much muscle am I going to lose in this time?
- Do you know of any good exercises that I can keep doing without my elbow?

Thanks in advance.

Chances are you will loose considerable mass and strength. Maintaining a strict diet and moderate to high degree of activity can help minimize loss.

The elbow is used in nearly every upper body movement. Lower body work generally does not stress the joint as much.

[Xdrp]

Bump

[mickfortis]

I'm sorry to hear that man... I kind of know what it feels like, since I had to stop lifting for 5 weeks this summer. I lost very little to no mass at all, but did lose some strength. However, it only took me about 3 weeks to regain my strength back and then add some, so I beleive it might take you about 2 months to regain yours...that's a very rough estimatuon though, as every person is different. As for what exercises you can do, as was said before you'll probably only be able to do lower body exercises. Good luck!

[Xdrp]

I'm sorry to hear that man... I kind of know what it feels like, since I had to stop lifting for 5 weeks this summer. I lost very little to no mass at all, but did lose some strength. However, it only took me about 3 weeks to regain my strength back and then add some, so I beleive it might take you about 2 months to regain yours...that's a very rough estimatuon though, as every person is different. As for what exercises you can do, as was said before you'll probably only be able to do lower body exercises. Good luck!

Thank you so much, this really does help me... it's really going to kill me not being able to lift, but as long as people you like you help me out I can make it through this.

[PrinceEros]

**** that bro... is surgery the only option? tried physiotherapy? are risk of the surgery worth it?

Nerve takes forever to heal and have normal again (may not ever regain 'normal' nerve function again, i cut my median nerve (along with all flexor tendons) at the wrist. After 8 months, everything has healed quite well almost back to normal including training, grip strength has been increasing back not back to what it was before (at the struggling to grip anything over 250lbs on bb, and 100lbs dumbels). But nerve function (feeling, as touch) has only improved slightly, from feeling nothing.... hard to explain... now i can feel but its ****ed up, its not bad, but its not normal how its meant to be. The time period for full recovery (if i ever get it back 100%) is 2 YEARS!!!!!!. I can train proper again, but i am taking it slow although im almost back to my best, and better than prior surgery.

Although, your nerve is not actually going to get cut, im assuming to wont be affected as much. BUT The surgery has the risk of fuking up your nerve, including motor control (use your arm, hand normally). Talk every thing very throughly with your surgeon, find a surgery has a lot of experience in that particular procedure (although many surgeon will be able to do it, they are not all as experienced and specialised in that specific procedure). Consult many surgeons before going under the knife.

Im guessing your arm will be immobilised for a few weeks, therefore you will use a lot of size and strength depending on the length til you are allowed movement. Expect far more loss than with simple not training for a while, as your arm will have no loading on it whats so ever. Just keep your diet in check, you can still do cardio, and leg training. Reading layne norton articles about how he kept training after having surgery to repair his torn pec (in which his injury side was immobalised for weeks), it has a lot of useful info, i wish i had read it sooner (read only like a month ago).

It may be a good idea to get an exercise physiologist or a physiotherapist to design your training post surgery.

[Xdrp]

**** that bro... is surgery the only option? tried physiotherapy? are risk of the surgery worth it?

Nerve takes forever to heal and have normal again (may not ever regain 'normal' nerve function again, i cut my median nerve (along with all flexor tendons) at the wrist. After 8 months, everything has healed quite well almost back to normal including training, grip strength has been increasing back not back to what it was before (at the struggling to grip anything over 250lbs on bb, and 100lbs dumbels). But nerve function (feeling, as touch) has only improved slightly, from feeling nothing.... hard to explain... now i can feel but its ****ed up, its not bad, but its not normal how its meant to be. The time period for full recovery (if i ever get it back 100%) is 2 YEARS!!!!!!. I can train proper again, but i am taking it slow although im almost back to my best, and better than prior surgery.

Although, your nerve is not actually going to get cut, im assuming to wont be affected as much. BUT The surgery has the risk of fuking up your nerve, including motor control (use your arm, hand normally). Talk every thing very throughly with your surgeon, find a surgery has a lot of experience in that particular procedure (although many surgeon will be able to do it, they are not all as experienced and specialised in that specific procedure). Consult many surgeons before going under the knife.

Im guessing your arm will be immobilised for a few weeks, therefore you will use a lot of size and strength depending on the length til you are allowed movement. Expect far more loss than with simple not training for a while, as your arm will have no loading on it whats so ever. Just keep your diet in check, you can still do cardio, and leg training. Reading layne norton articles about how he kept training after having surgery to repair his torn pec (in which his injury side was immobalised for weeks), it has a lot of useful info, i wish i had read it sooner (read only like a month ago).

It may be a good idea to get an exercise physiologist or a physiotherapist to design your training post surgery.

Yeah the doctors I've talked to say that's it's like the toughest nerve in your body and the recovery time should be fairly quick. Basically he's going to put the nerve under some muscle and fat, all I have to do is wait for that muscle and fat to bond down and hold the nerve in its new place.

I plan on training really light once I can again, but I have yet to talk to any physiotherapists about training yet.

And this is the only option, because it's my nerve snapping back and forth over my elbow bone, the physiotherapy wouldn't help.

[PrinceEros]

Well at least have a talk to a physiotherapist (try find someone with expertise in this condition, so call up many and ask questions).

Even if it end up being the only options, its not that much time you'll have off, even though it may appear so. LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE, you'll still have years to train afterwards.

And like i said before, read Layne's article about his pec tear surgery.

[j.daddy]

Dude, I hade the same surgery last September. You will be in a cast for two weeks and then you need to make sure you go to physical therapy. I had carpal tunnel release (left hand) as well as cubital tunnel release (left elbow, relocated my ulnar nerve to the inside of my elbow) at the same time. I waited until January to get back into the gym.

There are lasting effects from the surgery. I can't do pull-ups without pain, but for some reason I can do lat pulls with more than my bosy weight with no pain. The nerve is put under part of my bicep. When I get a really hard pump you can see where my bicep is slightly moved. I noticed a big difference in grip after surgery that hasn't gotten better. When you go back to the gym invest in a good set of powerlifting hooks. I don't do back workouts without them.

Mine was worker's comp and took 2 years to get done so I lost A LOT of weight because I couldn't train while going through the process. Still, I gained all the weight back and then some. In January I was 170lbs now I'm 222lbs. You may have to change some of the ways you train, but if you make the proper adjustments you can have great results.

Good luck dude.

[Xdrp]

Dude, I hade the same surgery last September. You will be in a cast for two weeks and then you need to make sure you go to physical therapy. I had carpal tunnel release (left hand) as well as cubital tunnel release (left elbow, relocated my ulnar nerve to the inside of my elbow) at the same time. I waited until January to get back into the gym.

There are lasting effects from the surgery. I can't do pull-ups without pain, but for some reason I can do lat pulls with more than my bosy weight with no pain. The nerve is put under part of my bicep. When I get a really hard pump you can see where my bicep is slightly moved. I noticed a big difference in grip after surgery that hasn't gotten better. When you go back to the gym invest in a good set of powerlifting hooks. I don't do back workouts without them.

Mine was worker's comp and took 2 years to get done so I lost A LOT of weight because I couldn't train while going through the process. Still, I gained all the weight back and then some. In January I was 170lbs now I'm 222lbs. You may have to change some of the ways you train, but if you make the proper adjustments you can have great results.

Good luck dude.

Thank you so much bro... really helps hearing from somebody who had the same problem. Hmm, those seem like pretty minor side effects that I can push past and still make progress. I'll be sure to pick up some lifting hooks, thanks again!

[lokobreed]

Hey bro have a question

DId you have the surgery yet?
I had it 10/15 of this year. My elbow is pretty swollen still and if touch the top of my elbow bone around that area it will send zingers/shocks into my hand... anyone else have this who had the surgery?

I am back to curling about 20 pounds... how long did it take you guys to get to that point? I dont want to overdo it either.

[lavinia88]

XDRP...how did it go? I am devastated. I should have my first competition in September , but now the subluxation of the ulnar nerve started to cause pain...even the median nerve is stiff and cause pain. triceps tendons are inflamed. Been 10 days I am not doing any flexing and curling and yet hurts like hell, sometimes I cannot even grab things with the left hand and the snapping at the elbow is even greater. Dunno what to do, if resting a month and then killing it anyway till competition and go to surgery afterwards or what... How long did it take you to recover? I am so frustrated

[pyrolee]

"Elbow pain? Pain medication didn't fix it? Let's move the nerve to another locations...that'll do it!"
-Usual Doctor

...seriously, if you haven't already, go see a sports medicine doctor and a good deep tissue masseuse!

[capsirish31]

I had the same issue with my nerve. Started during chest and tricep movements. The went started with any bending of my elbow. I had ulnar nerve intramuscular transposition surgery last Friday. Upon waking up I immediately called for pain meds. It was like someone was drilling into my arm with a drill bit made of lava. Its the most painful thing I've ever had done. Tingling after the surgery lasted about 48 hours. Then the twitching started. Then really bad swelling. The wrist and shoulder are always tired and stiff. Also I've lost some feeling in areas of my elbow but was told thats normal. Days 2,3, and 6 were the worst. At times i lost all feeling in my arm completely. Since being diagnosed I've been out of the gym 16 weeks. Now I'm in a brace for 3 weeks at 90° and then I'm able to start PT 2-3 times a week for 16 weeks... I've lost most of my size and have a soft look. I'm able to do lower body and cardio and have to really watch what I eat. If you're in the northern Virginia area go to the National Sports Medicine Institute. Dr. David and Tim Johnson are great! And they have an amazing résumé. Olympic ski and snowboard doctors, NY Giants, Orioles, Broncos, Rockies. Great guys extremely thorough and explain things well.