CUbital tunnel syndrome
The ulnar nerve is the nerve that supplies the electrical signals to the small muscles of the hand. It passes directly around the inside of the elbow (the funny bone) and commonly can be compressed in this location. Typically, bending the elbow while asleep (curling up in foetal position), holding a phone to the ear for prolonged periods, or resting the arm on a desk or car door window ledge can provoke symptoms of numbness/tingling in the little and ring fingers and sometimes a feeling of general weakness in the hand.
The treatment initially consists of some splinting of the arm in a straight position at night time to try to relieve pressure on the nerve whilst asleep. If this works, all well and good. If not, then sometimes operative treatment is required. This can either involve simply cutting open the tissue that sits on top of the nerve (a decompression), or in more severe cases, the nerve is moved from the back of the elbow to the front of the elbow to stop it getting stretched with elbow bending.