Symptoms of Brachial Plexus Injury - How it Can Be Treated?

 When the nerves of the brachial plexus get injured, the movement, feeling and growth of the arm can be affected badly. Paralysis, numbness (no feeling) and in children disturbances in the growth of the arm can occur. These injuries are common in adults who meet with motorcycle accidents; and in children they can occur during the birth process. Damage to the brachial plexus is usually related to the nerve injury, stretching injuries (including trauma of birth if any), and pressure from tumours in the area, or damage caused due to radiation therapy. The most common causes of brachial plexus injury are:

• Brachial plexus dysfunction may be associated with birth defects that put pressure on the neck area. You may feel numbness in the hand, arm, shoulder, and neck area. This happens due to the damage of the nerves.
• You may also experience immense shoulder pain.
• Tingling, pain, burning sensation or any other abnormal sensation. Location will depend upon the area injured.
• Exposure to toxins, chemicals and drugs is also a reason for this type of injury. Inflammatory conditions such as virus or immune system problem also cause nerve damage or brachial plexus injury. It causes weakness of the hand, shoulder, arm or wrist.

Symptoms Suggestive of Brachial Plexus Injury

• Problems with the sensation of muscle control in the hand, arm and shoulder area
• Redness, warmth or swelling
• Soreness and finger pain

Symptoms That Might Indicate a Serious Problem

• If there is sudden change in the level of consciousness such as passing out or unresponsiveness
• Sudden severe headache
• Sudden change or loss of vision
• Slurred speech or inability to speak

Effective Brachial Plexus Injury Repair

Brachial plexus surgery or brachial plexus injury treatment is aimed at correcting the underlying cause and allowing you to use your hand or arm as much as possible. Prescription pain medication may be needed to control the pain. Physical therapy may be recommended for some people to maintain the muscle strength. Brachial plexus treatment may benefit patients if the main cause of the symptoms is nerve compression. Thousands of babies every year are born with brachial plexus injuries. Erb’s palsy treatment is to be provided for babies born with brachial plexus palsy of the Erb’s type. This kind of injury occurs when there are complications during delivery with women who are unable to push the baby out. The physician may apply a certain amount of pressure to bring the baby out, which leads to this kind of injury.  Such situations occur when the baby is very big, when the neck of the bay is stretched, in a prolonged delivery, breech presentation and such other conditions.

School children facing permanent disability can undergo reconstructive surgery and rectify this condition. Brachial plexus injury treatment is beneficial in restoring natural movement to the arm and providing relief from pain and loss of sensation.