RADIAL TUNNEL SYNDROME (ENTRAPMENT OF THE RADIAL NERVE)
Overview
Few physical features carry more importance than your arms and hands. Without them, we would be unable to perform simple but critical actions such as grasping and lifting objects, writing, eating, driving, or even dressing.
Anatomy
The arms and hands contain a key component called the radial nerve. It begins in the neck and travels down the arm and into the wrist. A pathway this nerve moves through is the radial tunnel – a collection of muscle located beneath the elbow. A healthy radial nerve and tunnel are needed to ensure proper movement of the upper arm muscles, known as the triceps.

Causes
Radial tunnel syndrome can be caused by repetitive or awkward arm or wrist motions, or sudden injury from falls or car accidents.
Risk Factors
One’s risk of developing this condition increases if they:
- Play sports requiring continual throwing or arm extension movements, like baseball, boxing, and basketball.
- Work in a job with repetitive arm motions, like construction workers, window washers, and administrative professionals.
- Are of advanced age.
- Do not have flexible wrists or arms.
- Have a complicating illness like cancer, thyroid disease, or diabetes.
The problem can also be caused by simply leaning on your arm or elbow for extended time frames.

Symptoms
The most obvious symptom is pain, that often begins in the elbow. As the condition progresses, the pain tends to spread down the forearm. Often, lifting heavy objects, overextending the elbow, and excessive forearm rotation may worsen the unpleasant feeling.
Affected individuals may also experience redness, tenderness, and swelling on the outside of their elbow. Additionally, pain tends to grow more intense during the evening and can negatively impact one’s sleeping cycle.
Complications
If not diagnosed and treated early on, radial nerve entrapment can lead to pain in the hands and fingers, making simple actions like gripping or holding objects difficult and lessening the range of motion when twisting or extending the wrist. In the most severe instances, the problem can significantly weaken the muscles in affected arms, further limiting one’s ability to carry out common daily movements.
Diagnosis
Not one specific diagnostic test exists. A firm diagnosis could take a bit of time and examination. The diagnostic process is usually performed over several steps.
During the first phase, the doctor will ask you about your symptoms, when they started, and if any tasks worsen such problems. If they suspect radial tunnel syndrome, they will carefully check your forearm and elbow for any visible abnormalities. Following these initial stages, you might be asked to perform various resistance tests to determine the range of motion and pain tolerance levels.
Physicians may also use electromyography (EMG). EMG lets doctors determine how well the radial nerve and surrounding muscles communicate. Poor communication can show the presence of radial tunnel syndrome.
Your physician may also order internal imaging tests such as X-rays, MRI, or CT scans to capture images of the arm and elbow’s inner workings and function. They could help rule out other injuries or illnesses.
Treatment Overview
People respond to initial home-care treatment methods. If such therapies do not produce favorable outcomes, surgery may be needed.
Non-Surgical Options
Initial treatment usually involves simple corrective measures such as resting the injured arm for an extended time, using over-the-counter pain-relieving and inflammation-reducing medications, or placing the injured wrists, elbows, or forearms in movement-restricting devices like casts, braces, or splints.
More moderate cases may need therapeutic exercises designed to maintain motion ranges and prevent further weakening in the forearm muscles. Steroid injections have proven beneficial in reducing nerve sensitivity and swelling.
Surgical Procedures
Only the most severe cases or those failing to respond to the previous treatments will need surgery. Those undergoing surgery will have their radial tunnels widened. This effort creates more space for the radial nerve and limits the pressure placed upon it.
Surgery is often followed by gradual physical therapy geared towards helping the recipient regain any loss of strength and mobility.
Recovery
Specific recovery times will depend on the extent of the injury and the treatment method used. Other important factors include age, general health, level of physical fitness, and if there are any other arm, elbow, or wrist illnesses or injuries.
Establishing specific time frames is often difficult as individuals heal at their own pace. Less complicated cases treated with minimally invasive methods should respond faster than those requiring surgery.
Prevention
Instances of radial tunnel syndrome caused by sudden incidents cannot typically be prevented.
One might prevent (at least limit the severity) by stretching your arms before exercise and taking frequent breaks if you are employed in a profession requiring repetitive or unusual arm movements. Above all, individuals are urged to schedule a visit with their physician if they experience associated symptoms.
Next Steps
Talk to your Florida Orthopaedic Institute physician to learn more about radial tunnel syndrome if you are experiencing symptoms.
Areas of Focus
- Elbow
- Arthroscopic Debridement of the Elbow
- Aspiration of the Olecranon Bursa
- Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
- Elbow Bursitis
- Elbow Injuries in Throwing Athletes
- Golfer's Elbow
- Growth Plate Injuries Of The Elbow
- Hyperextension Injury of the Elbow
- LITTLE LEAGUER'S ELBOW (MEDIAL APOPHYSITIS)
- Olecranon Stress Fractures
- Radial Tunnel Syndrome (Entrapment of the Radial Nerve)
- Tennis Elbow
- Triceps Tendonitis
- UCL (Ulnar Collateral Ligament) Injuries
- Valgus Extension Overload
The following Florida Orthopaedic Institute physicians specialize in Radial Tunnel Syndrome:
Specialties
- AC Joint Injuries
- Achilles Tendinitis - Achilles Insertional Calcific Tendinopathy (ACIT)
- Achilles Tendon Rupture
- Achilles Tendonitis
- ACL Injuries
- Ankle Fracture Surgery
- Ankle Fractures (Broken Ankle)
- Ankle Fusion Surgery
- Anterior Cervical Corpectomy & Discectomy
- Arthroscopic Articular Cartilage Repair
- Arthroscopic Chondroplasty
- Arthroscopic Debridement of the Elbow
- Arthroscopy Of the Ankle
- Articular Cartilage Restoration
- Artificial Disk Replacement (ADR)
- Aspiration of the Olecranon Bursa
- Atraumatic Shoulder Instability
- Avascular Necrosis (Osteonecrosis)
- Bankart Repair
- Basal Joint Surgery
- Bicep Tendon Tear
- Bicep Tenodesis
- Bone Cement Injection
- Bone Growth Stimulation
- Bone Health Clinic
- Broken Collarbone
- Bunions
- Bursitis of the Shoulder (Subacromial Bursitis)
- Calcific Tendinitis of the Shoulder
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Charcot Joint
- Chiropractic
- Clavicle Fractures
- Colles’ Fractures (Broken Wrist)
- Common Foot Fractures in Athletes
- Community Outreach
- Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
- De Quervain's Tenosynovitis
- Degenerative Disk Disease
- Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH)
- Discectomy
- Discitis Treatment & Information
- Dislocated Shoulder
- Dupuytren’s Disease
- Elbow
- Elbow Bursitis
- Elbow Injuries in Throwing Athletes
- Epidural Injections for Spinal Pain
- Finger Dislocation
- Flexor Tendonitis
- Foot Stress Fractures
- Foot, Ankle & Lower Leg
- Foraminotomy
- Fractured Fingers
- Fractures Of The Shoulder Blade (Scapula)
- Fractures Of The Tibial Spine
- Functional Nerve Transfers of The Hand
- Ganglion Cysts
- General Orthopedics
- Glenoid Labrum Tear
- Golfer's Elbow
- Groin Strains and Pulls
- Growth Plate Injuries Of The Elbow
- Hallux Rigidus Surgery - Cheilectomy
- Hammer Toe
- Hamstring Injuries
- Hand & Finger Replantation
- Hand & Wrist
- Hand Nerve Decompression
- Hand Skin Grafts
- Hand, Wrist, Elbow & Shoulder
- Heat Injury/Heat Prostration
- High Ankle Sprain (Syndesmosis Ligament Injury)
- Hip & Thigh
- Hip Arthroscopy
- Hip Dislocation
- Hip Flexor Strains
- Hip Fractures
- Hip Hemiarthroplasty
- Hip Impingement Labral Tears
- Hip Muscle Strains
- Hip Pointers and Trochanteric Bursitis
- Hyperextension Injury of the Elbow
- Iliopsoas Tenotomy
- Iliotibial Band Syndrome
- Impingement Syndrome of the Shoulder
- Interlaminar Implants
- Interlaminar Lumbar Instrumental Fusion: ILIF
- Interventional Pain Management
- Interventional Spine
- Intraarticular Calcaneal Fracture
- Joint Replacement
- Knee & Leg
- Kyphoplasty (Balloon Vertebroplasty)
- Kyphosis
- Labral Tears Of The Hip (Acetabular Labrum Tears)
- Laminectomy: Decompression Surgery
- Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) Injuries
- Lisfranc Injuries
- Little League Shoulder
- LITTLE LEAGUER'S ELBOW (MEDIAL APOPHYSITIS)
- Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection
- Lumbar Interbody Fusion (IBF)
- MACI
- Mallet, Hammer & Claw Toes
- Medial Collateral Ligament Injuries
- Meniscus Tears
- Metatarsalgia
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Morton’s Neuroma
- Muscle Spasms
- Nerve Pain
- Neuromas (Foot)
- Neurosurgery
- Olecranon Stress Fractures
- Orthopaedic Total Wellness
- Orthopedic Physician Or A Podiatrist?
- Orthopedic Trauma
- Osteoarthritis of the Hip
- Osteoporosis
- Outpatient Spine Surgery
- Partial Knee Replacement
- Patellar Fracture
- Pelvic Ring Fractures
- Peripheral Nerve Surgery (Hand) Revision
- Pinched Nerve
- Piriformis Syndrome
- Piriformis Syndrome
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Podiatry
- Primary Care Sports Medicine
- Quadriceps Tendon Tear
- Radial Tunnel Syndrome (Entrapment of the Radial Nerve)
- Revascularization of the Hand
- Reverse Total Shoulder Replacement
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) of the Shoulder
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Of The Hand
- Robotics
- Rotator Cuff Tears
- Runner's Knee
- Sacroiliac Joint Pain
- Sciatica
- Scoliosis
- Shin Splints
- Shoulder
- Shoulder Arthritis
- Shoulder Arthroscopy
- Shoulder Injury: Pain In The Overhead Athlete
- Shoulder Replacement
- Shoulder Separations
- Shoulder Socket Fracture (Glenoid Fracture)
- SLAP Tears & Repairs
- Spinal Fusion
- Spine
- Spondylolisthesis and Spondylolysis
- Sports Foot Injuries
- Sports Hernias (Athletic Pubalgia)
- Sports Medicine
- Sports Wrist and Hand Injuries
- Sprained Ankle
- Sprained Wrist Symptoms and Treatment
- Subacromial Decompression
- Sudden (Acute) Finger, Hand & Wrist Injuries
- Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR)
- Tendon Transfers of The Hand
- Tennis Elbow
- Thigh Fractures
- Thigh Muscle Strains
- Thumb Ulnar Collateral Ligament Injuries
- Total Ankle Replacement
- Total Hip Arthroplasty
- Total Hip Replacement - Anterior Approach
- Total Knee Replacement Surgery
- Trapezius Strain (Muscle Strain of The Upper Back)
- Traumatic Shoulder Instability
- Triceps Tendonitis
- Trigger Finger
- Turf Toe
- UCL (Ulnar Collateral Ligament) Injuries
- Ulnar Neuritis
- Valgus Extension Overload
- Vertebroplasty
- WALANT (Wide Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet)
- Whiplash and Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD)
- Wound Care
- Wrist Arthroscopy
- Wrist Fractures
- Wrist Tendonitis
Services
- Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
- Physical Therapy
- Primary Care Sports Medicine
- PROMs (Patient-Reported Outcome Measures)
- Same-Day Orthopaedic Appointments Now Available
- Sports Medicine
- Sports-Related Concussion Treatment
- Telehealth Page
- Telemedicine
- Workers' Compensation
- Workers' Compensation Dispensary
- X-Ray