The cubital tunnel is a groove in a bone near your elbow. This narrow groove provides a passage for the ulnar nerve, one of the main nerves in your arm. The ulnar nerve can cause “funny bone” pain if your elbow gets bumped. Your cubital tunnel helps protect this nerve as it passes through your elbow and down to your fingers.

Bending your elbow compresses the ulnar nerve inside the cubital tunnel. The nerve can get inflamed (irritated) after constant bending and pinching or after getting hurt. Over time, this can lead to pain or numbness. The pain is often felt in your ring fingers and little fingers.

• Numbness or tingling in the ring fingers and little fingers

• Loss of finger or hand strength

• Inability to straighten fingers

• Sharp, sudden pain when elbow is touched

• Shrinking of hand muscles

You can keep cubital tunnel syndrome from flaring up. Keep your arm straight as much as you can, even while sleeping, to prevent pinching of the ulnar nerve. And use phone headsets and elbow pads. If you still have pain, tell your doctor.