Radial nerve: causes and symptoms of the disease

Neuritis (neuropathy) of the radial nerve most often affects the upper limbs of a person. Causes of the disease, usually arising in a dream, is damage to the radial nerve with a long laying of the hand under the head or body. Usually, such a deep sleep occurs with severe physical fatigue or strong alcohol intoxication.

Sometimes damage to the radial nerve occurs when it is squeezed with a tourniquet, crutches or a fracture of the humerus. It happens that the radial nerve is affected by an incorrect injection, directed to the outside of the shoulder. In rare cases, the disease is of an infectious nature, when the lesion occurs due to the entry into the body of infection in case of influenza, pneumonia, typhus, or general intoxication resulting from alcohol or heavy metal poisoning.

Most often, the place located at the border of the middle and lower third of the shoulder is squeezed in the area where the septum is located between the lateral muscular fossa and the nerve itself.

Radial nerve: symptoms of neuritis

The disease manifests itself in the form of all kinds of disorders and changes in sensitivity in the area of innervation. The clinical picture becomes clear only after determining the level of nerve damage.

In the case of severe damage to the radial nerve, which is located in the armpit, located in the upper third of the shoulder, it is possible to develop paralysis of the muscles. These include the muscles of the hand, the main phalanx of the fingers, extensors of the forearm. Patients with neuritis of the radial nerve begin to lose the reflex of the tendon of the triceps, at the same time the carporadial reflex weakens.

Before the beginning of treatment, diagnostic tests are performed to determine the degree of damage to the radial nerve.

When the hands are lifted in the horizontal position, the hand hangs down. Fingers are very close to each other. It is almost impossible to unbend forearms or brushes. The possibility of bending the joint at the elbow is lost. In this case, the extensor and caraporadial ulnar reflexes are significantly reduced, the sensitivity of the first three fingers decreases, and limb numbness occurs.

In a lighter form, the radial nerve allows the forearm, elbow joint to unbend , the sensitivity of the shoulder remains normal.

If the radial nerve is damaged, diagnostic tests give the following results. The patient can not withdraw his thumb while standing upright with his hands down. It is impossible to touch fingers on the inside of the palm at the same time. When the patient's hand is placed on the table with the palm of his hand, the person can not put the middle finger on the neighboring ones. When breeding phalanges, they are not diverted, and the fingers only bend and slide.

To prevent or stop the development of ailment, it is necessary to perform mandatory neurological examinations.

The degree and depth to which the radial nerve is damaged can be diagnosed by the procedure of electrostemagmography (ENG). Using this method, you can make a prognosis for recovery.

Radial nerve: treatment of neuritis

To combat the disease, prescribe the intake of vitamins E, C and B. It is also important to take anticholinesterase, antiviral drugs and homeopathic drugs. For treatment, massage, acupuncture and physiobalneotherapy are prescribed.

With the help of neurostimulation, you can get rid of the pain and restore the strength of the muscles of the hands. If after the start of treatment for several months there are no positive results, to eliminate the neuritis of the radial nerve and restore strength, it is necessary to have an operative intervention.

To improve the condition of the patient using folk remedies, for example, tea from the leaves of mother-and-stepmother.