Compression

• The most likely cause of ulnar nerve damage is compression, where too much pressure causes temporary or permanent dysfunction of the nerve.
  
  

Locations

• If a compressed nerve is to blame, it is most likely at the elbow, but could be at the wrist or the collarbone.
  
  

Injury

• Injury to any point on the arm can cause ulnar nerve damage. When you bump your elbow, the tingling/pain sensation associated with it is an example of temporary ulnar nerve damage.
  
  

Other Causes

• Other causes of ulnar nerve damage include prior elbow fractures, cysts, bone spurs, repetitive actions and swollen joints. Even sleeping with your arm curled at the elbow can cause ulnar nerve damage.
  
  

Unknown

• Sometimes, the cause of ulnar nerve damage remains unknown. Regardless of the cause, the treatments for ulnar nerve damage include anti-inflammatory medications for pain, physical therapy and sometimes surgery.