You’ve been dealing with this nagging sensation for weeks now. It’s not your elbow that hurts, and it’s not your wrist either. The pain in forearm below elbow feels like it’s coming from deep within the bone itself—a persistent ache that makes you want to shake your arm or stretch it out, but nothing seems to help.
This type of deep ache in forearm can be incredibly frustrating because it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly where it’s coming from. You might feel like you need to constantly move your arm to find relief, but the discomfort just won’t go away. The sensation often worsens with certain activities like gripping, twisting motions, or typing on a keyboard.
If this sounds like your experience, you’re not going crazy, and you’re definitely not alone. We’ve helped treat more than a few people who struggled with this exact type of forearm pain below elbow, and there’s a good chance you may be dealing with a condition called radial tunnel syndrome—a treatable condition that responds well to physical therapy.
What is radial tunnel syndrome?
Much of our body’s aches and pains originate in or near the joints due to injury, inflammation, degradation, or simply overuse. However, nerves are often to blame for pain that is harder to locate or explain. When it comes to that mysterious ache in your forearm, the culprit is frequently the radial nerve that runs through the forearm.
Recognizing radial tunnel syndrome symptoms
Radial tunnel syndrome presents with several distinctive symptoms that can help you identify whether this condition might be causing your discomfort:
- Deep, aching pain in the forearm that feels like it’s coming from the bone
- Pain that worsens with activities involving gripping, twisting, or extending the wrist
- Difficulty pinpointing the exact location of the pain
- A feeling that you need to “shake out” or stretch your arm for relief
- Pain that may extend from just below the elbow down toward the wrist
- Weakness in the hand or fingers during gripping activities
- Discomfort that persists even during rest periods
What is radial tunnel syndrome?
Radial tunnel syndrome occurs when the radial nerve becomes compressed or irritated as it travels through a narrow space called the radial tunnel, which runs within the forearm from the elbow to less than halfway down the forearm. This tunnel is a group of muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues that surround the radial nerve, and when these structures become tight or inflamed, they can put pressure on the nerve.
The radial nerve is responsible for controlling several muscles in the forearm and hand, which is why compression can cause that characteristic deep, aching sensation. Unlike other types of arm pain that might be sharp or burning, radial tunnel syndrome typically produces a dull, persistent ache that can be difficult to ignore.
Several factors can contribute to the development of radial tunnel syndrome, including:
- Repetitive arm motions
- Prolonged gripping activities
- Direct injury to the forearm
- Sleeping in positions that compress the nerve
People who work in jobs requiring repetitive wrist and forearm movements, such as assembly line workers, musicians, or computer users, may be at higher risk of developing this condition.
How to treat radial tunnel syndrome
The good news is that radial tunnel syndrome is highly responsive to physical therapy treatments, and most people can find significant relief relatively quickly.
There are even conservative self-care measures you may want to try before scheduling an appointment with a physical therapist.
Self-care for forearm nerve pain
In some cases, rest, avoiding aggravating activities and motions, and over-the-counter pain medication is all you need to help your body to heal from radial tunnel syndrome. This approach works best when the condition is caught early and the nerve compression is relatively mild.
Key strategies include:
- Activity modification: Reduce or avoid activities that worsen your symptoms for several days.
- Rest periods: Take frequent breaks from repetitive motions.
- Anti-inflammatory medications: Over-the-counter options like ibuprofen can help reduce inflammation around the nerve.
- Ice application: Using ice for 15-20 minutes several times a day can help manage pain and swelling.
When physical therapy becomes necessary
For aches that won’t go away, or when you can’t stop doing certain activities that make the aching worse, physical therapy can help. This is often the most effective long-term solution for radial tunnel syndrome, especially for people whose symptoms persist despite rest and at-home treatment.
Although everyone’s treatment will be personalized to their condition, a few general treatments tend to work well for radial tunnel syndrome:
- Manual therapy techniques may include specific mobilization of the radial nerve to improve its ability to glide through the surrounding tissues. Therapists might also perform soft tissue work on the muscles and fascia around the radial tunnel to reduce compression.
- Targeted exercises form a crucial part of treatment. Your physical therapist will teach you specific stretches to improve flexibility in the forearm muscles and tendons. Strengthening exercises help build support around the affected area and address any muscle imbalances that might be contributing to nerve compression.
- Posture and movement education helps you identify and modify activities or positions that might be aggravating your condition. This is particularly important for people whose symptoms are related to work or recreational activities.
- Ergonomic assessments may be recommended to evaluate your workspace or daily activities and suggest modifications that can prevent recurrence.
The timeline for improvement varies from person to person, but many people begin to notice relief within a few weeks of starting physical therapy. Complete recovery may take several months, depending on how long you’ve been experiencing symptoms and the severity of the nerve compression.
Forearm pain relief at SSOR
If you’re struggling with persistent forearm pain below elbow that just won’t seem to improve with rest and self-care measures, it may be time to seek professional help. At Specialists in Sports and Orthopedic Rehabilitation (SSOR), we use the latest evidence-based practices to bring relief to folks in Kansas City from their joint and nerve pain, including from radial tunnel syndrome.
Start the conversation with our team by calling one of our clinics or by requesting your first appointment online today.