Nerves can be damaged by stretching, too much pressure or by injury in which the nerve is cut. Stretch injuries can range from mild to temporary or even permanent injury in the arms. The extent of injury depends on the amount of stretch that was experienced. Pressure injuries are due to structures, for example muscles or tendons applying too much pressure onto the underlying nerve. An example of this is carpal tunnel syndrome. A cut causes the nerve to stop transmitting signals, therefore causing changes in your movements, actions and sensation you feel on your skin.
This affects the upper extremities and is associated with either pain, numbness and/or weakness in the shoulder, arm or hands. The nerves of your upper limb arise from the brachial plexus, which extends off your neck.
Axillary Nerve
This nerve is frequently injured due to shoulder dislocation and you may notice difficulty when lifting your arm out to the side. You may also notice numbness or tingling over your shoulder.
Musculocutaneous Nerve
You may notice numbness or tingling over the thumb side of your forearm and weakness with elbow flexion.
Radial Nerve
Injury is common and due to fracture of the humerus/ upper arm bone. You may notice weakness when extending your arm or rotating your forearm. Injury to this nerve may also cause a deformity called wrist drop. You may also notice numbness or tingling from your elbow to the second knuckle of the 2nd and 3rd finger on the outside of your arm.
Median Nerve
Injury to this nerve is most commonly due to pressure on the nerve as it enters the wrist. Common symptoms include numbness in the hand, pain in the hand, wrist, forearm and weakness which is most commonly noticed in the thumb.
Ulnar Nerve
A typical deformity of this nerve caused by injury is the claw hand, due to an inability to extend the 4th and 5th fingers. You may also notice numbness and tingling in these fingers.
If you are suffering from any numbness, pain, weakness in your arms or hands, or you notice any of the above symptoms, chiropractic treatment may be useful and your chiropractor can assess the degree of injury.
Trapped Nerves can be treated via cold laser therapy to reduce the symptoms as fast as possible and restore normal neck and upper limb function. Lakeside Laser offer multiple laser emitters to manage your condition in the timeliest way possible. Lakeside Laser offers Cold laser therapy for a vast majority of conditions and is located at 3/45 Central Walk Joondalup central to Perth’s Northern Suburbs. Lakeside Laser has many visitors from neighbouring suburbs including Ridgewood, Yanchep, Sinagra, Wanneroo, Padbury, Craigie, Beldon, Mindarie and Sorrento. To schedule an appointment you can visit our website www.lakesidelaser.com.au or contact us on 93000095 to speak with our trained professionals. We look forward to seeing you soon.
