It can be frustrating when you’re experiencing pain in one area that’s caused by an issue in another. For example, standing on your feet for an extended period of time can lead to lower back pain. So if carpal tunnel syndrome usually affects the hands, wrists and fingers, is it possible to feel symptoms in other parts of your arm? The answer is yes.

The most common symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include pain in the fingers, weakness and stiffness. However, it’s possible that you could experience the effects of the condition in your elbow. By understanding the connections between carpal tunnel syndrome and your elbow, you can work with your health care providers to determine the best treatment options, including physical therapy, to alleviate the symptoms.

We’ll talk about possible reasons why your elbow may be affected by carpal tunnel syndrome. Then we’ll discuss the best treatment options, including the courses of action that we offer at Lattimore Physical Therapy. 

4 possible connections between carpal tunnel syndrome and the elbow

You have a median nerve that runs from your armpit down your arm and into your hand. It works to provide motor functions in the hand, wrist and forearm. When the median nerve becomes pinched, the pressure can build up on the nerves, leading to carpal tunnel syndrome. It’s a relatively common condition, affecting up to 5% of the general adult population. 

Carpal tunnel syndrome can be developed due to repetitive hand movements, such as typing or writing. It can also occur if your job uses tools that require wrist flexion for extended periods of time. Other risk factors include fractures, arthritis and thyroid issues.

While many symptoms occur in the lower part of the arm, it’s also possible to feel the impact of the nerve compression in the elbow. Here are a few possible reasons why:

• Radiating pain — Pain from carpal tunnel syndrome is often felt in the hand and fingers; however, it’s possible to feel pain that radiates from the hand and up the arm, affecting the elbow. The median nerve runs over the front of the elbow. So even though it’s pinched near the wrist, it’s possible for pain to travel its way up to the elbow. That’s because the nerves along your arm communicate with each other. This is also known as referred pain, as the source of the problem is different from where it’s being felt. 
• Cubital tunnel syndrome — Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common peripheral nerve entrapment. Cubital tunnel syndrome is right behind it. Cubital tunnel syndrome refers to compression of the ulnar nerve, which passes through the inner elbow, causing pain. It’s common to have carpal tunnel syndrome and cubital tunnel syndrome at the same time. In fact, research shows that many people who undergo treatment for one often exhibit symptoms of the other.
• Strain from readjustments — If you’ve been living with carpal tunnel syndrome for a while, you’ve probably learned how to readjust your fingers, hand and wrist while carrying out movements to reduce potential pain. Adjusting your arm and hand movements can put additional strain on your elbow muscles and joints. For example, if you’re typing, you might try to keep your wrists elevated from the keyboard. This can lead to your elbows being raised as well, which puts in more work for the joint.
• Exacerbated symptoms — When you have a condition like carpal tunnel syndrome, the symptoms don’t always stay put in one area. For example, common symptoms of the pinched nerve are swelling and inflammation. These can both affect the surrounding tissue of the median nerve when exacerbated by excessive strain and result in the symptoms working their way up to the elbow, such as pain from the inflammation.

It’s important to talk to your doctor about any symptoms you may be experiencing, whether you’ve been diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome or not. If you’re having persistent or worsening symptoms that are affecting your elbow, you may have another injury or condition that requires diagnosis and treatment, such as tennis elbow.

How to treat carpal tunnel syndrome that’s affecting your elbow

When you’re experiencing pain or a reduced range of motion in your elbow joint, it’s easy to assume that your treatment should focus on that area. But if your doctor confirms that your elbow discomfort is related to carpal tunnel syndrome, then it’s important to treat the source of the symptoms.

There are a number of ways to treat carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms affecting your elbow. While there are some types of self-care that you can practice at home, others will require the assistance and insight of a health care professional, such as a physical therapist.

Here are a few treatment options to address carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms that are affecting your elbow:

• Medication — If you’re looking for temporary pain relief from your carpal tunnel syndrome, ask your doctor about taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) at home. Over-the-counter medications, like ibuprofen, can help reduce inflammation to decrease the pressure on the median nerve.
• Cortisone — If your carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms are severe, your doctor may recommend a cortisone injection, also known as corticosteroids. The steroids can work to provide long-lasting relief from symptoms that are affecting your elbow, such as swelling around the nerve and tendons.
• Splint — With excessive hand and wrist movements, you can risk exacerbating the carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms that can affect the elbow, such as inflammation. Because limiting your wrist movement can make a significant difference, your physical therapist may recommend a custom splint. A splint prevents unnecessary movement and can be worn at night to decrease discomfort while you sleep.
• Exercises — When you’re diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome, one of the first courses of action that your provider will likely recommend is exercises. There are a variety of safe and effective exercises that can help reduce pain and improve hand, wrist and elbow function. Your physical therapist can guide you through exercises to strengthen the affected muscles for improved joint support and function. You can also learn stretches that will boost the area’s flexibility and range of motion.
• IASTM — A common physical therapy treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome is instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM). It involves using specialized steel tools to break up scar tissue and improve blood circulation, boosting the body’s healing abilities. IASTM not only helps decrease pain that can radiate up to the elbow, but it can also improve the affected area’s mobility and range of motion.

Lattimore Physical Therapy can help when your carpal tunnel syndrome is affecting your elbow

Every time your carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms flare up, it can make you want to avoid all movements until they go away. However, since life doesn’t stop when you’re in pain, it’s important to address the source of the issue so that it doesn’t affect other parts of your arm, including the elbow.

At Lattimore Physical Therapy, we offer a variety of treatment options for carpal tunnel syndrome. We’ll design a personalized treatment plan based on the severity of your symptoms, medical history and physical capabilities. Whether you’re looking to learn safe stretches or improve your range of motion with IASTM, we can help.

Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.