I Have Golfer’s Elbow and I Have Tingling in My Ring and Little Fingers

Tingling in your ring and little fingers with golfer’s elbow can show up when your elbow stays bent or your grip is working hard, because irritation near the inner elbow can affect the ulnar nerve.

You may notice the tingling when your elbow is bent for a while, when you grip something firmly, or when you use your hand repeatedly. It can feel strange because the tingling may start around the inner elbow and then seem to travel down toward your ring and little fingers.

Golfer’s elbow does not automatically mean that every sensation in these two fingers comes from the tendon injury itself. The ulnar nerve passes behind the inner side of your elbow, so irritation in that area can produce tingling or numbness in your ring and little fingers at the same time that your inner elbow feels sore or tender.

The Tingling Starts When Your Elbow Stays Bent

Your ring and little fingers may start tingling when your elbow stays bent.

You might notice the sensation while holding your phone, driving, sleeping with your arm bent, or keeping your elbow folded during activity. Straightening your elbow may temporarily reduce the tingling because the nerve is no longer being held in the same position.

Your Fingers Tingle More After Repeated Gripping

Your ring and little fingers may feel prickly after gripping and using your hand repeatedly.

You may notice the tingling after swinging a club, carrying something, lifting, or repeatedly squeezing a handle. Your inner elbow may already feel sore from golfer’s elbow, and continued activity can make the nearby nerve symptoms more noticeable as the area becomes tired and sensitive.

Why Your Elbow Keeps Triggering Finger Tingling

Your elbow can take longer to recover when blood flow and circulation are reduced.

Muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other soft tissues can become irritated or strained through repeated movement, overuse, awkward movements, prolonged positions, or everyday activities. Some of these tissues, particularly tendons and ligaments, naturally receive less blood supply than many other parts of the body and may take longer to recover after irritation or injury. Recovery can take even longer when the same movements or activities continue to place stress on them.

Reduced circulation through the area can make it harder for the tissues to receive the oxygen and nutrients they need to heal properly. This can leave your elbow feeling sore, tight, weak, stiff, or painful during everyday activities.

How To Help Your Elbow Feel Better

Improving blood flow and circulation can help your elbow feel better.

For centuries, Chinese herbs have been used to support healthy blood flow and circulation. Their medicinal properties help disperse stagnant blood and excess fluids that can collect around irritated or injured tissues and restrict normal circulation. As circulation begins moving more freely, fresh blood can better deliver oxygen and nutrients throughout the area to help it recover properly.

Topical remedies containing these Chinese herbs can help relieve pain and other symptoms while supporting healthy blood flow and circulation around the elbow. The right product depends on your symptoms and whether the problem is recent or has been ongoing for some time.

If you have pain, swelling, inflammation, or bruising, Bruise Relief Liniment helps relieve these symptoms by increasing circulation and dispersing stagnant blood and fluids around the irritated tissues. As circulation improves, fresh blood, oxygen, and nutrients can more easily reach the tissues that need them for healing.

If the area is especially swollen, red, or warm after a recent injury or flare-up, Ice Substitute Poultice can also be used to reduce swelling and inflammation while dispersing accumulated blood and fluids. As swelling and trapped fluids are reduced, circulation can move more freely through the area.

If you no longer have swelling or inflammation, but still have pain, stiffness, weakness, or sensitivity in cold weather, Pain Relief Liniment helps relieve these symptoms by strongly stimulating circulation and increasing blood flow to irritated tendons and ligaments. This is especially important because tendons and ligaments naturally receive less blood supply and can take longer to recover.

If you continue to have pain or stiffness around an injured tendon or ligament, or the area feels more painful in cold weather, Tendon and Ligament Poultice can also be used to further stimulate circulation to the area. By increasing circulation, it helps offset the reduced blood flow caused by cold weather, which can aggravate chronic tendon and ligament injuries.

If your muscles feel sore or tight, or if you are preparing for exercise or strenuous activity, Muscle Therapy Massage Oil warms and stimulates the muscles, increases circulation, relieves tightness, and improves flexibility. Using it before activity helps warm up the muscles, while applying it afterward can help relieve soreness and stiffness.

Frequently Asked Questions

You may also find these commonly asked questions helpful.

Can golfer’s elbow cause tingling in the ring and little fingers?

Golfer’s elbow itself affects the inner elbow tendons, but irritation near the inner elbow can also affect the nearby ulnar nerve and cause tingling in your ring and little fingers.

Why do my ring and little fingers tingle when my elbow is bent?

Your ulnar nerve passes around the inner elbow, and keeping your elbow bent can increase pressure or irritation around the nerve, making those fingers tingle.

Can gripping make tingling in my fingers worse with golfer’s elbow?

Yes. Repeated gripping can aggravate your inner elbow and make nearby nerve symptoms more noticeable, especially when your arm is already tired or sore.

Should I stop activity if golfer’s elbow causes finger tingling?

Reducing activities that clearly trigger the tingling can give the area a chance to settle. Persistent or worsening tingling should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare professional.

What nerve causes tingling in the ring and little fingers?

The ulnar nerve supplies sensation to your little finger and part of your ring finger, so irritation of this nerve can cause tingling or numbness in those fingers.

Safety Notes

This article provides general educational information about the topic described above.

Persistent, severe, or worsening symptoms should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare professional.