How Could a Brachial Plexus Injury Affect You?
The brachial plexus is a nerve network that sends signals from a person's
spine to their shoulder, arm, and hand. A brachial plexus injury occurs
when the nerves undergo over-stretching or compression. In some cases,
the nerves can tear, which can cause serious injuries. In mild cases,
brachial plexus injuries usually heal on their own. However, those who
are suffering from a severe brachial plexus injury may require surgery
to correct the problem or to prevent further injury.
A number of different things can cause these injuries, such as:
- Direct blows to the body from an accident
- Playing direct contact sports, such as football
- Tumors
- Inflammation
What are the symptoms of a brachial plexus injury?
The signs and symptoms of a brachial plexus injury can vary based on the
location as well as how serious the problem is. Most of the time, the
injury will affect only one arm. Those who have relatively minor injuries
will find that some of the most common symptoms are the feeling of an
electric or burning sensation that shoots up along the arm. Others might
feel weakness in that arm. Most of the time, these symptoms will only
last for a couple of seconds. However, others will find that the symptoms
can actually stay with them for several days.
Those who have a serious brachial plexus injury that involves torn nerves
will find that the pain they feel is very severe. They may also find that
their arm and hand is very weak. They might not be able to use certain
muscles in the shoulder, arm, and hand either. Sometimes, the damage is
so great that they can't move the limb at all on the side that is affected.
Getting Medical Help
Even for those who feel that they have a relatively minor injury, it is
important to get in touch with a skilled neurological expert as soon as
possible. If you suffer from any of the above symptoms or notice weakness
in your shoulders and arms, or neck pain, it's a good idea to contact
a physician so he or she can get to the bottom of the problem and help
you find a good treatment option to get you back to normal.
Most of the time, brachial plexus injuries will heal without any lasting
damage. However, sometimes the injuries can become serious enough to cause
permanent damage, such as perpetually stiff joints, loss of feeling, and
permanent disability.
Always visit a doctor to reduce the possibility of permanent injury.
Who is at risk for a brachial plexus injury?
Many people can suffer from a brachial plexus injury, but one of the most
common ways is through contact sports. When players collide, they can
experience the sensation of a brachial plexus injury when these nerves
stretch. Newborns can also be at risk during a difficult birth. Accidents
and other types of trauma can cause brachial plexus injuries as well.
Inflammation, tumors, and even radiation treatment can also manifest this
type of injury. Evaluation by a skilled neurologist is the best bet for
accurate diagnosis and an appropriate treatment plan.
Contact a Sports Neurology Professional Today
At Vernon B. Williams, MD, Inc., I, Dr. Williams, have been sharing my
knowledge within the legal community since 1997. As an experienced sport
concussion expert witness and
board certified neurologist, I have the training and resources to serve as an expert witness for both
plaintiff and defense medical cases. Have questions about how I can help
you with your matter?
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