What is the function of the brachial plexus?

The brachial plexus is a network of nerves in the shoulder that carries movement and sensory signals from the spinal cord to the arms and hands. Brachial plexus injuries typically stem from trauma to the neck, and can cause pain, weakness and numbness in the arm and hand.

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.

What is Erb’s palsy?

In most cases of brachial plexus birth palsy, it is the upper nerves in the brachial plexus that are affected. This is known as Erb’s palsy. The infant may not be able to move the shoulder, but may be able to move the fingers.

How do you treat brachial plexus pain?

Brachial plexus injuries can limit your range of motion and cause pain in your neck, shoulder, arm, wrist, or hand. Your doctor may recommend an over-the-counter pain medication for relief, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. If necessary, a stronger pain medication may be prescribed for one or two weeks.

Do brachial plexus injuries heal?

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.

Can brachial plexus be fixed?

Surgery to repair brachial plexus nerves should generally occur within six months after the injury. Surgeries that occur later than that have lower success rates. Nerve tissue grows slowly, so it can take several years to know the full benefit of surgery.

Is Erbs Palsy serious?

Is Erb’s palsy fatal? No, Erb’s palsy is a nerve condition that results in weakness or loss of muscle function in your arm or shoulder. It’s not fatal.

How do I relax my brachial plexus?

Rest your forearm on a table and keep your elbow flexed to 900 and tucked into your side. Using your other hand to help, turn your hand palm up as far as it can go. Using your other hand to help, turn your hand palm down as far as you can. Do not allow your elbow to move while you are stretching.

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 …