Brachial Neuralgia - World Class
Holistic Homeopathy Treatment
NERVOUS SYSTEM – Brachial neuralgia
Fear of disease is more worrisome than suffering with the disease itself.
This condition is often seen in brachial neuralgia, since it mimics referred
pain of heart attack i.e. pain radiating to
shoulder. So, shoulder pain or arm pain, even if it is simple, should be
brought to the notice of the doctor to lead a life peacefully without any
‘psychological’ heart complaints.
Brachium means arm i.e., from shoulder to elbow. Thus, the neuralgic pain
in the arm is medically termed as brachial neuralgia. This brachial neuralgia
seems to occur in people who lead a sedentary life. Like sciatica in legs,
brachial neuralgia attacks the upper limb. It is otherwise called
cervicobrachial neuralgia or thoracic outlet syndrome where brachial plexus
(group of nerves supplying arm) is irritated or inflamed or compressed or
pinched to cause symptoms in shoulder, arm, forearm or in hand.
Brachial neuralgia
It is a painful nerve disorder where pain radiates to the arm in the
particular pathway of the affected nerve(s). It comes after the inflammation /
irritation / compression of the particular nerve(s) (i.e., neuritis). Its intolerable
intensity, persisting character or recurrent attacks make every sufferer
worried. The pain of brachial neuralgia may be constant, sharp, stabbing,
burning, shooting, radiating, annoying, debilitating and sometimes it comes and
goes just like flashes one afraid of it.
Incidences
Brachial neuralgia is rare,
especially in those under 20. Sufferers are mostly sedentary workers (computer
professionals) and long distance travellers / drivers. They will be weak and
get trapped due to occasional strain. It occurs mainly due to development of
friction loss / osteoporosis / degeneration. Also it is commonly noted after
strenuous exercise, spinal injury, lifting heavy objects improperly, prolonged
sitting, after watching TV / movies continuously, etc.
Pathology
In general, cervical or neck
vertebras are 7 in numbers, namely, C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6 & C7. Spinal
nerves emerging from these vertebrae form the brachial plexus (collection of
nerve roots) and supply the entire upper limb i.e., shoulder, arm, forearm and
hand. Among all cervical vertebrae, C5, C6 & C7 are the more
vulnerable vertebra to degeneration
or friction loss with movement. So brachial plexus of these roots often get
inflamed. This inflammation is medically called as ‘brachial neuritis’ and the
symptom following this inflammation is called as ‘brachial neuralgia’.
Causes
Brachial neuralgia can be caused by
innumerable factors. It can originate from neck or shoulder or arm or forearm
or hand.
Neck – Due to losing normal curvature of spines with
friction loss, degeneration, distortion, herniation of disc, tumours,
arthritis, extra bone growth, (i.e., cervical spondylitis / Ankylosing
spondylosis / cervical spondylosis / spinal tumours or abscess / disc prolapse
/ cervical rib), fracture, improper posture, strains, violent exercises,
bursitis, tendonitis, herpes, etc.
Arm – Due to injections, injury, herpes, etc
Forearm – Due to tennis elbow, carpal tunnel
syndrome, fractures / tendonitis, etc.
Shoulder – Due to arthritis / periarthritis / frozen
shoulder / bursitis
Other than these, nervous diseases / disorders, diabetes, hypertension,
SLE, etc., can cause this type of neuralgia.
Symptoms
usually vary from person to person in type, intensity and suffering
period depending
upon the involved nerve fibres and nature of the complaint or disease. The
site of the pain depends on the condition that causes it and the place of
injury or infection or inflammation in the specific supplying nerve(s). The
complaints commonly get aggravated with change of position and range of
movements. Sometimes it is felt more at night after falling asleep which
generally wakes up the person in the middle of sleep. It may be compression
created due to lying posture or exerted pressure over diaphragm / heart. The
common symptoms are:
·
Tightness & stiffness of shoulder, arm, forearm, etc.
·
Difficulty in lifting / stretching / extending the arm
·
Violent sharp lightning / shooting down / electric
flickering- type pain
in shoulder or upper arm or lower arm or
in all parts
·
Pain usually travels / radiates down to the hand
·
Altered sensation or numbness or tingling sensation
(feeling of pricking pins) with weakness in the parts involved
·
Restlessness and fear due to pain
Prevention & management
Do’s
·
Sleep in a straight position, spreading arms sideward
·
Have a small pillow i.e. not more than 3-4 inches
thickness
·
Sit erect and use neck in erect posture while doing any
job
·
Maintain good posture while reading or working with
computers
·
Check for bike shock absorbers often and use smooth roads
Avoid
·
Lifting heavy objects / strenuous exercises
·
Putting hands under the head while sleeping
·
Sitting and keeping neck in one position continuously for
prolonged period
·
Massaging violently with analgesics, since it can
aggravate the complaint
·
Avoid exposure to cold weather and cold bath
Diagnosis and investigation
It is essential to do clinical
examination with detailed case taking i.e., for analysing history of complaints
to plan for treatment, since they often provide a clue to the point of disease
/ complaint origin. For example:
·
Pain in thumb and index finger indicates compression of
nerves of C5 and C6
·
Pain in little finger and ring finger indicates
compression of nerves C7-T1
Examination of spines and checking for the force and ability to lift the
hand in front, backwards, sidewards and rotation of the hand should be done
before starting treatment. The weakness, loss of sensation, stiffness and
radiation of pain should also be analysed with respect to specific spines or
specific nerve roots or change of positions or range of movements.
Tenderness over the muscle or spine or nerve indicates infection or
inflammation on that spot. Spasm / stiffness indicates persisting
infection either in muscles, nerves, ligaments, etc.
Routine blood test and mantoux test (for diagnosing tuberculosis) is
essential in case of suspicion of tumours of spines. The most essential
investigations are X-rays and CT or MRI for analysing neck and thoracic spines
and shoulder to arrive at final clear diagnosis. Further, to root out cardiac
origin of complaints, one can go for ECG, Echocardiogram, treadmill test, etc.,
and to root out diaphragm origin or liver origin or gall bladder origin, it is
essential to do ultrasound scan of abdomen.
General treatment
Brachial neuralgia, if left
untreated / maltreated, usually lasts for several months and sometimes even for
many years. So, one needs to start right line of treatment at the earliest.
Unless otherwise the cause is found out and treated given accordingly or
appropriately, the result will not be satisfactory. Since brachial neuralgia has
numerous causative factors, finding the exact cause on of a sudden is difficult
and thus difficulty arises in starting the apt treatment immediately. So, in
general, in Allopathy, one will be kept in wait-and-watch mode with all sorts
of investigations to find out the cause. Meanwhile, the patient will be
provided anti-inflammatory drugs, pain-killers, analgesic ointments / gels /
sprays and short wave diathermy for pain reduction. Further, one will be
advised bed rest, supplements like calcium, magnesium and essential fatty acids
with mild physiotherapy. Sufferers will also often try their own way with oil
application, massage and hot bath.
Treatment options usually vary depending upon the causes and intensity of
the complaints i.e., traction for cervical spondylitis, surgery for cervical
rib, calcium supplements for periarthritis of shoulder, surgical release of
nerves in case of entrapment as in cervical spondylosis and carpal tunnel
syndrome, etc. In extreme cases, seizure medicines or steroidal medicines or
anti-depressants will also be prescribed to manage the excruciating pain
temporarily. As a last resort, neurosurgery for surgical dissection or
desensitisation of nerves with steroidal injections will be opted.
Homeopathic approach
Any type of neuralgia should not be treated just with anti-inflammatory drugs
and pain-killers, since the situation will often get worse with time to lead to
disappointment. Also, one should be aware that “Instantly killing pain with a
pain-killer tablet is just like putting out the light when you don’t want to
see the things around. Surely the day will come when / where you cannot switch
off the pain”. Here pleasure with pain-killers is nothing else but
intermission of pain.
If the causative factor is finely tracked and the patient is well-analysed
constitutionally, Homeopathy can root out all the sufferings at the earliest
with the apt drug. Also, sometimes, the causative factors cannot be found even
with all sorts of investigations, and complaints will be brought to the doctor
just as a subjective pain. Even then, by giving importance to the feelings /
sensations, aggravating factors, constitution of the patient with detailed case
taking, Homeopathy can provide miraculous relief from this nervous pain without
any side-effects by controlling the inflammation and infection of the nerves.
Homeopathic medicines commonly used in cases of brachial neuralgia are Acid
phos, Apis mel, Arnica, Belladonna, Bryonia, Calc carb, Calc phos, Causticum,
Colocynthis, Kalmia, Kali bich, Kali phos, Lachesis, Ledum, Lycopodium, Mag
phos, Medorrhinum, Natrum mur, Nux vom, Phytolacco, Plumbum met, Pulsatilla,
Rhus tox, Ruta, Sangunaria, Spigelia, Strychinum, Sulphur, Tarentula, Viscum
alb, Xanthoxylum, Zinc met, etc. These Medicines should be taken under the
advice and diagnosis of a qualified Homeopath.
for
new hope
Dr. S.
Chidambaranathan, BHMS, MD (Homeo)
Laxmi
Homeo Clinic
24 E.
New Mahalipatti Road
Madurai,
TN 625 001
India
Tel: +91-452-233-8833 | +91-984-319-1011
(Mob)
Fax:
+91-452-233-0196
E-mail:
drcheena@yahoo.com
www.drcheena.com / www.drcheena.in
(Disclaimer
- The contents of this column are for informational purpose only. The content
is not intended to be a substitute for professional healthcare advice,
diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of healthcare professional for
any health problem or medical condition.)