The brachial plexus is a group of nerve bundles responsible for conducting nerve signals from the spinal cord to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Doctors catergorize a brachial plexus injury based on the severity of the nerve damage. Under the instructions of a physician and physical therapist, physical therapy exercises may help heal damaged nerve fibers. These exercises typically place an emphasis on a range of motion exercises, and they can speed up recovery time and improve the chances that normal nerve function will be completely restored.
Diagnosis
If you suspect a brachial plexus injury, it is important to visit your doctor so that he can determine the severity of the damage. Signs of brachial plexus injury include weakness or numbness of the arm or hand, or sharp that may radiate down the arm. A more extreme injury may leave the arm and shoulder completely paralyzed. The severity of a brachial plexus injury may range from mild inflammation to a complete rupture of the nerve roots. For less severe cases, physical therapy may be the answer to healing the injury and regaining normal sensation and mobility.
Techniques
Range of motion exercises are extremely important to healing the damaged nerves of brachial plexus. These therapeutic exercises facilitate nerve signaling and conduction, as well as promoting an increase in blood flow to the injury, allowing the damaged sites to heal faster. Exercises such as shoulder flexion, extension, and rotation are important to improve muscle function of the upper arm. Supination and pronation of the forearm and circumduction of the wrist is good for joint mobility.
Healing Time
Due to the nature of the cells that make up nerves, healing a brachial plexus injury may take some time. Nerve regeneration can be a slow process, and depending on the extent of the damage, repair of the brachial plexus nerve cells can take up to four months. It is important to practice patience during the healing time, and to remain active in the physical therapy program to restore optimal arm and hand function.
Surgery
There may be some instances when physical therapy is not sufficient enough to heal a brachial nerve injury. In the case of complete rupture of the nerves, the only way to reverse the damage is through surgery. That's why you should have your suspected brachial plexus injury investigated further by a physician. If you need surgery it is likely a rehabilitative physical therapy program will follow.
