What are the symptoms of brachial plexus injury?
What are the symptoms of brachial plexus injury?
The most serious brachial plexus injury occurs when the nerve root is torn from the spinal cord. Signs and symptoms of more-severe injuries can include: Weakness or inability to use certain muscles in the hand, arm or shoulder. Complete lack of movement and feeling in the arm, including the shoulder and hand.
Can brachial plexus nerve damage heal on its own?
Many injuries to the brachial plexus will recover spontaneously without surgery over a period of weeks to months, especially if they are mild. Nerve injuries that heal on their own tend to have better functional outcomes.
What is the most common cause of brachial plexus injury?
Brachial plexus injuries cut off all or part of the communication between the spinal cord and the arm, wrist, and hand. This may mean that you can’t move or feel parts of your arm or hand. The most common cause of this injury is when the neck is tilted while pulling (traction) happens on the other side of the neck.
How do you heal a brachial plexus injury?
Nerves that have only been stretched may recover without further treatment. Your doctor may recommend physical therapy to keep your joints and muscles working properly, maintain range of motion, and prevent stiff joints. Surgery to repair brachial plexus nerves should generally occur within six months after the injury.
How long do damaged nerves take to heal?
If your nerve is bruised or traumatized but is not cut, it should recover over 6-12 weeks. A nerve that is cut will grow at 1mm per day, after about a 4 week period of ‘rest’ following your injury. Some people notice continued improvement over many months.
How long does it take for brachial plexus to heal?
Natural Recovery The nerves of the brachial plexus originate in the neck, in the cervical spine. The nerves re-grow from the neck down the arm. This healing will occur at a rate of 1 mm per day or 1 inch per month.
How do you treat brachial plexus neuropathy?
Your healthcare provider may give you corticosteroids for the pain in the meantime. If the brachial neuritis is the result of an injury and surgery can be done in a timely fashion, then surgery might be used to repair the nerves of the brachial plexus region.
Will MRI show brachial plexus injury?
Different imaging modalities can be used to study the brachial plexus, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound (US) 1, however MRI is the imaging modality of choice for the evaluation of the brachial plexus due to its superior soft tissue resolution and multiplanar …
What doctor treats brachial plexus injury?
Orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons and rehabilitation specialists are all part of the brachial plexus team at Mayo Clinic.
What happens if nerve damage goes untreated?
Left untreated, nerve damage may worsen over time. It can sometimes start in the nerves farthest from the brain and spinal cord — like those in the feet and hands. Then it may move up into the legs and arms.
Is nerve damage a disability?
If you suffer from a condition that causes nerve damage that is so severe that it impacts your ability to work for at least a year, you may be eligible to receive Social Security Disability benefits.