Symptoms:

• Numbness of the shoulder, arm, or hand
• Shoulder pain
• Tingling, burning, pain, or abnormal sensations (location depends on the area injured)
• Weakness of the shoulder, arm, hand, or wrist

Signs and tests:

An exam of the arm, hand and wrist can reveal a problem with the nerves of the brachial plexus. Signs may include:

• Deformity of the arm or hand
• Difficulty moving the shoulder, arm, hand, or fingers
• Diminished arm reflexes
• Wasting of the muscles
• Weakness of hand flexing

A detailed history may help determine the cause of the brachial plexopathy. Age and gender are important, because some brachial plexus problems are more common in certain groups. For example, young men more often have inflammatory or postviral brachial plexus disease called Parsonage Turner syndrome.

Tests that may be done to diagnose this condition may include:

• Blood tests
• Chest x-ray
• Electromyogram (EMG)
• MRI of the head, neck, and shoulder
• Nerve conduction tests
• Nerve biopsy (rarely needed)