Why, the hell, the elbow is like being electrocuted after being hit?

Maybe once, twice, or even frequently, your elbow has accidentally hit a hard object. Apart from pain, what else do you feel? Most people complain more about a tingling sensation, such as temporary numbness, than the pain immediately after impacting the elbow with a hard object. Curious why this condition can occur? Check out the following reviews.

The elbows of the hand are traversed by the ulnar nerve

All the sensations that arise when the elbow hits the elbow actually doesn't come from the elbow bone, but because there is an ulnar nerve in it. The ulnar nerve is the nerve that runs along the shoulder to the tip of the little finger. Its function is as a muscle regulator that facilitates movement of the fingers, hands and lower arm muscles.

Unlike other nerves in the body, not all parts of the ulnar nerve are protected by muscles or bones. The ulnar nerve located in the elbow area is covered by skin and fat only.

Electric shock when you hit your elbow, what is the reason?

The ulnar nerve in the elbow is located behind the humeral bone, which is the bone that extends from the elbow to the shoulder. Unfortunately, there are parts of the ulnar nerve that are not covered by bone and muscle. Now, the exposed part without protection is very sensitive.

That's why when you hit the elbow accidentally, the ulnar nerve in the elbow area sends a signal to the brain quickly. The brain responds to this by causing a tingling sensation such as a light electric shock.

In fact, sometimes, you can even experience numbness in the arms down to the fingers, says Dr. Derick van Vuuren, a physiologist from Stellenbosch University in South Africa. But take it easy, this condition usually won't last long and can heal within minutes after impacting the elbow.

Be careful, it could be more than tingling in the elbow

Most cases of hitting the elbow are harmless. It's just that, in some other cases the ulnar nerve is under pressure, which makes it easy to pinch it. This condition is known as cubital tunnel syndrome.

The hobby of leaning the elbow on a hard surface, bending the elbow for a long time, doing strenuous activities that put too much pressure on the ulnar nerve, or indeed there are problems with the bone structure in the elbow, are at risk of causing cubital tunnel syndrome.