Brachial neuritis is a condition caused by damage to the brachial plexus nerves, resulting in pain and reduced mobility in the shoulders, arms, hands, and chest. It is more common in men and can be caused by various factors, including autoimmune diseases, infections, and genetic factors. Treatment involves pain management, addressing underlying diseases, and physical therapy. Surgery is considered only in rare cases. Most people make a full recovery, but simultaneous damage to both brachial plexus nerves is rare and can result in a more prolonged recovery.
The brachial plexus is a set of nerves, one on each side of the body, that help deliver sensations to the shoulders, arms, hands, and chest. Damage to this area, which can occur in a variety of ways, can create a condition called brachial neuritis, which typically affects the shoulders more and is more likely to affect men. It is very difficult to ignore this condition, given the extreme discomfort it creates when it first appears.
Symptoms of brachial neuritis include starting pain in the shoulder, usually on one side only. This pain may be seen with other symptoms such as loss of reflexes or reduced shoulder mobility. In complicated cases, as this disease may persist for a long time, other parts of the brachial plexus fail to deliver appropriate impulses to the arms or chest, and although rare, breathing may be impaired by this failure.
People who have this condition should see a doctor to get a diagnosis, but the cause isn’t always easy to determine. Healthcare professionals evaluate your symptoms, and if they suspect brachial neuritis, they may not yet have an answer as to the cause. There are many problems that can lead to this disease, including a genetic form of the disease. Other potential risk factors include some autoimmune diseases; be recently ill with a bacterial, viral or fungal infection; or get vaccinations. Alternatively, some cancers can cause these symptoms.
Treating this problem must therefore be a two-pronged effort. First, pain management is needed, and depending on pain tolerance, patients may be helped by over-the-counter medications or require opioids. Any underlying disease present may require treatment. Autoimmune diseases could fall into this category, as could persistent bacterial or parasitic infections. Even once the pain is treated, the discomfort can last a long time, often up to two years.
Medical professionals usually strongly recommend physical therapy to preserve range of motion in the shoulder and prevent muscle atrophy. In rare cases, these steps aren’t enough or breathing is compromised, so healthcare providers might consider more aggressive treatment measures at this point, including surgery to change the way the brachial plexus sends and receives responses nervous. Surgery is generally considered only when other treatments are not effective.
Many people who have brachial neuritis make a full recovery. This is less likely if the condition occurs simultaneously, affecting each brachial plexus, which is quite rare. In general, the condition, while perhaps not its cause, is fairly easy to diagnose due to its sudden and quite alarming and uncomfortable onset. Fortunately, the disease itself has a low onset rate, although a person who thinks they have it should see a doctor right away.
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