[notmytarga]

Lots of docs helping out here!

sammyg - the situation you describe sounds like your ulnar nerve was being compressed at the elbow while you were in the hospital bed - happens more often with non-obese males because of the lack of padding, the elbow's 'carrying angle' and that men assume the position you described. Getting up and around and/or elbow pads do the trick. But you got the $5000 workup to address something that an anesthesiologist would just know.

Carpal tunnel syndrome affects the median nerve at the wrist and thus will affect the index, middle and 1/2 of the ring finger. There are exam tests (tapping on the ligament that covers the nerve) that can pin it down but Electromyography and Nerve conduction studies help pin point the level of compression. Other situations mentioned above such as cubital tunnel syndrome, Reynauds syndrome etc could be the cause - but your depth of symptoms was rather limited. Which fingers? Any symptoms above the wrist?

Prior to jumping to surgery (simple and effective) see an occupational therapist - there are exercises and stretches that can help alot. Wearing a wrist brace may help but I would go for surgery before becomeing dependent on a brace 24/7.

The stretches are of the wrists and fingers. All tendons that flex(grab) your fingers go through the same space with the nerve. Do a search.