Joe A Shaw PA-C - 2/5/2008

Question
Hi, i'm a 40 yr old lady with arthritis, myositis ossificans and recently diagnosed ulnar nerve entrapment of left elbow - all due to a bad break of radial head when i was 12!  I have had 3 operations, 2 to excise radial head and 3rd to remove fragments from the elbow joint. A decision was made to leave the ossifans.

I am due to have surgery on the 20th feb for the release of ulnar nerve entrapment my consultant will decide during surgery whether to move the ulanr nerve or just release it, he syas it will depend on many factors including the fact that my elbow is quite badly damaged. (i am dreading yet another operation but I am left handed and can't risk leaving it any longer)

I have all the normal symptoms of nerve entrapment and have done for the past year, but a new symptom has appeared over the last month which is intense itching of little/ring fingers and palm of hand.  There is NO rash, redness or bumps just the mad itching in the affected hand.  Do you think this is connected to any of my  conditions or am I going mad!?

Hope you can help thanks

Answer
Samantha,
I have not ever heard of those conditions causing itching in the palm and little finger. As you know the Ring finger(half) and little finger and the ulnar side of your palm is where the ulnar nerve distribution lays. Perhaps the median nerve which runs through elbow area(which effects the palm and first three fingers)and the ulnar nerve are being irritated by the myositis ossificans formation and the ulnar nerve entrapment. With no rash and no skin exposure to new substances,contact dermatitis,eczema etc..IT does seem to much of a coincident doesn't it? Have you tried hydrocortisone cream 3 x day 1% OTC or 2.5% Rx to rub on skin...if it is something topical on the skin etc..this will help..if it is from the "nerves" I don't think it would do much.