Brachial neuralgia causes pain in the shoulder and upper arm due to nerve damage in the neck. Left arm pain can be mistaken for a heart attack. Treatment options include medication, physical therapy, and surgery. Early treatment is important to prevent worsening of the condition and possible related medical problems.
Brachial neuralgia is pain radiating to the shoulder and upper arm caused by damage to a nerve in the neck. When it occurs in the left arm, it can be mistaken for a heart attack symptom, causing great concern in the patient. Treatment options are available, and a patient may encounter physical therapists, orthopedic surgeons, and neurologists in the process of pain assessment and treatment. It is important to be aware that some treatments can take time to work and the process of finding a solution can sometimes be lengthy.
In patients with brachial neuralgia, the nerve may be pinched by one of the structures in the neck or may be damaged due to infection, inflammation, or progressive neurological disease. The pain can be sharp and stabbing and can come and go, depending on the cause. Many patients find it severe and intolerable and usually seek treatment quickly with the aim of obtaining relief.
When a patient presents with brachial neuralgia, a medical evaluation will be conducted to find out what is going on. Medical imaging studies can be helpful, as can laboratory tests. This information will be used to explore possible treatments. These can include anti-inflammatory drugs, pain management medications, and physical manipulations such as decompression and stretching to see if a pinched or trapped nerve can be released. Electrical nerve stimulation to interrupt pain signals is sometimes an option. Surgery may also be considered.
This condition can be frustrating and elusive in some patients. When a nerve is pinched, the pressure can rise and fall, leading to situations where patients sometimes feel pain and sometimes feel good. Measures such as stretching and spinal adjustments performed by a chiropractor can resolve the pain and, in other cases, it can return. Proper treatment should include pain management, and some patients may also benefit from counseling if they are experiencing depression or frustration due to shoulder pain.
It’s important to get treatment for brachial neuralgia, as it can become more severe when left untreated. There is a possibility that it could be related to another medical problem that needs evaluation and treatment, and catching this condition early can provide patients with more options for long-term treatment and management. Chronic pain conditions can also have deleterious effects on mental health and patients should be sure to report changes in their mental health to their doctors.
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