Long thoracic nerve injuries can be caused by trauma, poor posture, nerve entrapment, and certain health conditions. Symptoms include neck and shoulder pain, numbness, and scapular ala. Treatment options vary depending on the cause of the injury.
A long thoracic nerve injury can occur when the nerve is damaged, irritated, overstretched, or trapped. There are several types and reasons for injury to the long thoracic nerve, including injury or trauma to the area and certain health conditions such as poor posture, birth defects, and degenerative processes especially in the neck. Injury to the long thoracic nerve is a common cause of neck and shoulder pain and numbness, with scapular ala, an abnormal protrusion of the scapula.
Nerve entrapment or compression can be caused by poor posture and body mechanics. This results in radiculopathy, a nerve pain condition. A congenital anomaly in which an extra rib is present above the first rib can create postural problems, which in turn put pressure on the long thoracic nerve. Improper lifting or carrying of heavy objects can strain or overstretch the nerve and cause long-lasting injuries to the thoracic nerve in the form of inflammation, pain, and swelling.
An injury to the brachial plexus, a series of nerves that exit the spine through the neck, armpit, and up the arm, can produce a long thoracic nerve injury. A hard blow to the mid back area can also damage this nerve. Overstretching of the shoulder when the arm is positioned out from the body or overstretching of the neck by lateral flexion, tilting the chin to the side and toward the chest, can also produce overstretching and irritation of the chest along the nerve . Injury to this nerve in the form of abnormal pressure on the nerves due to swelling of the surrounding areas or a small cut to the nerve itself can also occur with surgical procedures for breast cancer, such as a radical mastectomy in which lymph nodes in the armpit are removed .
Health conditions that can cause long thoracic nerve injuries include things like diabetes and some autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, where there may be structural damage to the nerves. Degeneration of the spine in the trunk area can cause stenosis or narrowing of the canal in the spine where the disc is located. The disc may then begin to inflate or leak. This can press on the long thoracic nerve, a condition known as nerve entrapment.
Another health condition that can cause lengthy thoracic nerve injuries is Parsonage-Turner syndrome, referred to as PTS. This is a situation where there is rapid and short-term brachial inflammation. This syndrome can cause nerve pain that lasts from a few days to a few years. The causes of PMS are unknown, but they can be linked to certain viral or bacterial infection processes such as chicken pox, influenza and smallpox.
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