What kind of signs and symptoms a person with brachial plexus injury experiences depends on how severe the injury is and its location. The brachial plexus injury tends to usually affect only one arm. Here are some symptoms that are experienced during less severe and severe brachial plexus injuries.
Less severe injuries that happen during contact sports such as football or wrestling when the brachial plexus nerves get compressed or stretched are called stingers or burners; these injuries can cause the following signs and symptoms:
• feeling of an electric shock or burning sensation running down the arm
• weakness or numbness in the arm
The symptoms tend to last only for a few seconds or minutes, but in some people this may linger for longer.
More-severe injuries can severely injure or rupture the nerves and the most serious brachial nerve injuries tend to start when the root of the nerve is torn from the spinal cord. The signs and symptoms of such injuries may include:
• Inability or weakness to use particular muscles in the shoulder, arm and hand
• Severe pain
• A complete lack of movement as well as feeling in the arm including the hand and shoulder.
Read more articles on Brachial Plexus Injuries.