This collection follows my experience with cubital tunnel syndrome, advanced ulnar nerve damage, ulnar nerve transposition surgery, and changes in hand function before and after the procedure. The essays address diagnosis, preparation, recovery, occupational therapy, adaptation, and the difficulty of identifying a new loss of function when cerebral palsy is already part of the medical history.
The articles are presented in chronological order. They describe personal experience and are not a substitute for medical evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment.
Start with the diagnosis
Function, Delayed
This essay begins with nerve-conduction testing, the diagnosis of cubital tunnel syndrome, and the finding of advanced ulnar nerve damage. It considers treatment delays, the practical consequences of continuing compression, and what the diagnosis meant for a person who also relies on her arms and hands for mobility and routine tasks.
Preparing for surgery
Are You Ready?
This account follows the day of ulnar nerve transposition surgery, from intake through the preoperative area. It explains why the procedure was recommended and describes the questions, trust, and uncertainty involved in reaching the operating room.
Recovery and adaptation
The Decisions No One Sees
Written during early recovery, this essay examines the decisions involved in completing ordinary tasks with temporary restrictions and reduced use of one arm. It distinguishes independence from self-sufficiency and considers how assistance can support personal choice.
The Trouble With What Used to Work
This essay considers how established routines may stop working when strength, coordination, balance, or other abilities change. Ulnar nerve surgery provides one example of why adaptation begins by identifying the specific part of a task that has become difficult.
Therapy, continuing weakness, and unanswered questions
The Second Conversation
This essay returns to occupational therapy after the initial evaluation. It addresses continuing weakness, corrections to the written report, functional goals, and the need for treatment to account for both postoperative changes and cerebral palsy.
In the Absence of an Answer
This essay documents continuing loss of hand function after surgery, the effort required to obtain referrals and specialist care, and the medical questions that remained unresolved. It also connects clinical measurements with typing, dressing, shoes, and other activities affected by hand weakness.
The Problem With the Baseline
This essay examines an occupational therapy evaluation after ulnar nerve transposition surgery. It focuses on the difference between population norms and the individual level of function that existed before surgery, particularly when evaluating a person with a lifelong disability.
Why this series matters
Ulnar nerve problems are often described through symptoms, test results, and procedures. These essays add the functional details that can be harder to capture during an appointment: how hand weakness affects mobility, work, dressing, household tasks, and the process of seeking care. The collection is intended for people with disabilities, families, therapists, physicians, students, and others interested in patient experience and disability-informed care.
Medical information notice: This page and the linked essays provide personal experience and general information only. They do not provide medical advice and should not be used to diagnose or treat a medical condition. Questions about symptoms, surgery, rehabilitation, or changes in function should be discussed with a qualified health professional.