re: Carpal and Cubital Tunnel surgery survivors

This thread is an amazing coincidence. I have ulnar nerve entrapment. I had never heard of any of this until about two weeks ago when I woke up and my pinky and half of my left ring finger were numb. I had trama to that nerve some 15 years ago, and it's bothered my to do things through the years--carrying my kids on my left side, doing curls, bench press or triceps extensions. It was always just more of a nuisance, not really a big deal. I could always power through it. Hitting my "funny bone" on that arm was excruciating and was 10 times more intense and lasted much longer than the other arm. But I dealt with it.

So when I woke up and it was numb, I didn't pay it too much attention. It was only when I couldn't tie my shoes, button my pants, and cut my right hand fingernails that I started to panic. I went to the doctor and she sent me to PT that I start Monday. But what can that really do. My nerve slides over the bone when I bend it. I can adjust sitting at a keyboard or resting my arm while I'm driving or sitting in a chair. But I'm not prepared to forfeit working out for the rest of my life.

2 things:

1) Can rehab actually correct the issue or am I looking at surgery eventually? I'd rather knock it out and get to post-surgery rehab rather than wasting time and money on a PT and still ind up having to have it anyway.

2) Who does the surgery? A orthopedist or neurologist? I only saw my GP.