Numbness in 4th and 5th fingers right hand

Dear Ask The Doctor: I'm 31. I have bugled discs in L4, L5, S1 with shooting pain down the right leg for almost 2 years.. I have gotten the shot, and it only lasted for a month. Gonna get another soon. But for the past year i have felt numbness off and on in my right hand palm side. Now for the last 3 months total numbness in ring finger and pinky and claw like hand. Hand was alreadyed clawed a bit from baseball and all the sports i have played. I have gotten an emg on hand and now they sending me to a ORA. Should i be prepared for?

Dear Kevin: According to your description, it might correlates with a inflammation of the Ulnar nerve, because of its superficial position at the elbow, it is often injured by excessive pressure in this area (leaning on the elbow during work, sleeping or while driving a car) or can be compressed at the wrist level. The symptoms of ulnar nerve entrapment can vary from mild transient numbness in the ring and small fingers to clawing of these digits and severe muscle atrophy of the hand muscles; also you may feel severe pain at the elbow or wrist with radiation into the hand or up into the shoulder and neck. You may have a hard time in opening jars or turning doorknobs. Early fatigue or weakness may be present if you do a work that requires repetitive hand movements. If you tend to rest on the elbows at work, increasing numbness may appear throughout the day.The suggested conservative treatment consist of: avoid resting on elbows at work, using elbows to lift the body from bed, and resting elbows on car windows while driving, using an anterior elbow extension splinting (if necessary), and correction of ergonomics at work should correct the transient numbness. Anti-inflammatory medications also are useful to relieve nerve irritation. Oral vitamin B-6 supplements may be helpful for mild symptoms. This treatment should be done out for 6-12 weeks, depending on the response. Surgical intervention is indicated if symptoms get worse despite adequate conservative treatment.