Radial tunnel syndrome

Anybody have experience with radial tunnel syndrome? I have tentatively self-diagnosed based on

location of pain (2" from lat epicondyle)
relatively low pain with direct pressure (sensory part of nerve does not pass through tunnel)
more sensitive to resisted middle finger extension than to passive hand flexion

Just looking for climber-specific opinions about fixes. Does it respond to the same treatments as lateral epicondylitis?

Hey Phil,
I had/have it. It was a long time getting diagnosed with some mis-diagnoses along the way. I finally saw a good orthopedist. It's hard because the location of the nerve impingement from RTS isn't necessarily where the pain is felt. I always felt pain at the back of my elbow but the impingement itself occurs like you say a few inches lower than the elbow. It was really tender there, if you pressed on that spot below the elbow I would jump a mile but the pain always felt like it was coming from within the elbow itself. I tried self treating with some of the lateral epicondylitis stuff at first and it did NOT help at all! In some cases increased the soreness and pain, so I'd personally avoid that route if you think it's nerve impingement in the radial tunnel.

I tried PT and went about 2 years from the original injury (which wasn't actually climbing related although climbing aggravated the pain) until I finally had nerve release surgery. Surgery got my elbow like 98% better, I still feel it but it doesn't bother me much. Elbow problems haven't impacted my climbing since surgery in 2011, while before the surgery, I would take months off at a time and found no improvement when I'd get back on the rock. Sorry for that bad bit of news, but my physical therapists also felt that RTS is really pretty resistant to PT.

Good luck, feel free to send me a message if you want any more info.

Amy

Thanks a lot, Amy, I really appreciate all the info.