The symptoms
In the case of nerve inflammation in the arm, pain is the main symptom. These are mostly pulling pains along one or more nerve courses. Depending on the progression of the inflammation, there may be attacks or dull, constant pain.
In some cases, the pain is also intensified by certain movements or during physical activity or occurs more frequently during the night. The pain can often be improved by massaging the corresponding areas. As possible accompanying symptoms, certain movements may cause a tingling or strange feeling in certain areas of the arm or hand.
These symptoms are also called paresthesias and are caused by the irritation of the nerve due to the inflammation. In some cases, muscle pain or even a regression of the muscles can also occur because the nerves can no longer supply them with sufficient energy. As a result, the muscles can no longer be moved and are broken down.
- Nerve inflammation
- You can recognize an inflammation of the nerves by these symptoms
Pain is usually the leading symptom of nerve inflammation in the arm. It is often caused by damage to the myelin sheath, i.e. the sheath of the nerve fibers, during the inflammation, which exposes the nerve to direct contact with surrounding structures. Depending on the localization, pain can occur along the nerve tract in the entire arm and is often pulling or stabbing and can be intensified depending on movement.
The diagnosis
When treating inflammation of nerves in the arm, the cause and severity of the inflammation is always important. If, for example, the cause is an infection, it is treated with the respective antibiotics in the case of bacterial inflammation and with the corresponding antivirals in the case of viral inflammation. If there is a trauma or an accident, it often has to be treated surgically and the arm usually has to be spared for a while in case of a fracture.
In general, various painkillers that reduce the inflammation can be used as medication. Depending on the severity of the inflammation, these include ibuprofen or preparations containing cortisone. The latter are intended to curb the immune reaction that causes the inflammation of the nerve.
In some cases, local anesthesia can also lead to an acute reduction in pain. If the inflammation of the nerve in the arm causes movement restrictions or a tingling sensation in certain parts of the arm, additional supportive physiotherapy is always recommended. There are several possible medications for the inflammation of nerves in the arm.
In most cases, drugs from the group of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are used. These include, for example, ibuprofen, indomethacin or diclofenac, which can be taken as tablets in the case of an acute pain attack. They usually relieve the pain effectively after a relatively short time, as they reduce the inflammatory reaction.
You can find more information about NSAIDs here. Vitamin B, especially vitamin B12, is one of the most important essential vitamins for the normal functioning of the nerves. Essential in this context means that vitamin B must be taken in mainly with food.
Accordingly, a deficiency of vitamin B12 can lead to nerve damage, or existing nerve damage or inflammation can be aggravated. A balanced diet is therefore always recommended. You can read more about this topic here
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin B12 deficiency
There are various homeopathic remedies that can help with inflammation of the nerve(s) in the arm.
These include Magensium carbonicum or Zincum metallicum, but also Naja tripudians or Verbascum. Other possible homeopathic remedies are phosphorus, belladonna or spigelia. In case of nerve inflammation in the arm, a change in the surrounding temperature can be very helpful.
It is individually different whether heat or cold helps better. In general, local heat leads to a relaxation of the nerves and especially the surrounding muscles. Cold, in turn, reduces the transmission of nerve signals, thus also local pain signals.
Therefore, heat or cold should always be applied individually depending on the severity of the pain. In addition, this should only take place over a fixed period of time to prevent overheating or hypothermia. In addition to drug treatments, there are also some home remedies that can relieve the pain in the event of nerve inflammation in the arm.
The most important thing here is a balanced diet. This includes plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Some people have noticed an improvement in pain through regular drinking of nettle or ginger tea. Nuts, such as walnuts or almonds also seem to have a positive effect.
