United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I have had this condition twice in my life (first time I was 22, full recovery within 1 year), presently 33 years old and suffering through a similar occurance on the other side of my body (also called Parsonage-Turner Syndrome). Here's a bit of info from a medical journal:

Prognosis is generally good, since recovery of strength and sensation usually begins spontaneously, as early as 1 month after symptoms onset, with about 75% of complete recovery within 2 years. However, the period of time for complete recovery is very variable, ranging from 6 months to 5 years. It seems that the delay in recovering strength depends on the severity and duration of pain, weakness, or both.
Furthermore, patients with involvement of proximal and upper trunk lesions have the most rapid recovery. Although not very common, relapse might nevertheless occur within a few months to several years after full recovery. In general, complete restoration to normal strength and function usually occurs within five years.
However, prognosis is influenced by the duration of the resulting incapacity, some patients having experienced impairment persisting sometimes thirty years after the onset. The occurrence of diaphragmatic forms must be taken into account in the diagnostic approach of dyspnea.

No specific treatment has yet been proved efficient in Parsonage-Turner syndrome. In the early stages, pain may require treatment. Common analgesic drugs are usually sufficient. However, in many cases, high pain intensity requires morphine administration.
Corticosteroids administration does not provide any significant benefit, with the exception of a few patients who experienced some pain relief. Rest is recommended, and immobilization of the affected upper extremity may be helpful in relieving the pain and in preventing stretching of the affected muscles.
As pain subsides, physical therapy is recommended. Passive range of motion exercises of the shoulder and elbow are suggested to maintain full range of motion. Active rehabilitation is undertaken only when some recovery of the affected muscle(s) is already obtained. Furthermore, all the upper body muscles should undergo rehabilitative exercises, and not only those presenting clinical weakness. It is also recommended that strength recovery reaches a plateau before patient returns to sports.
However, the recovery delay does not seem to be improved by these physical therapies. Surgical stabilization of the scapula to the thorax, or tendon transfers have been performed with benefit in patients who did not achieve recovery.

My boyfriend had sugery done to decompress a nerve and in turn it was supposed to help the winging scapula. He had the sugery last October and the pain now is worse than it was before the surgery. Do you have any suggestions on what he should next? He has tried just about everything to ease the pain but nothing helps unless he just lies down. Any suggestions would be appreciated. He wants to use growth hormones to see if that will help the muscles, has anyone heard of that?

yes i have the same problem please contact me through my email so we can chat about ti .......regards wendy

wendy_purton@hotmail.com

had scapula abraded underneath and lined up w/abraded ribs. holes drilled in scapula lined up w/holes drilled in ribs- everything was then laced together w/donated tendon from a cadaver. Bingo-no more winging. But suddenly I started liking brussels sprouts. Go figure.------Ronin

I have read about this procedure (static stabilization)and for me it would be a last resort, almost a salvage procedure, hopefully when I get my dynamic muscle transfer op it will work and I wont have to go down that route.

I was diagnosed 1 year ago with bracial plexitus or Parsonage Turner syndrome. After 2 nerve conduction tests they determined that my ceranial nerve 11 is inflammed causing muscle atrophy, scapula winging, unable to lift my right arm, and at the time severe pain. Now, one year later the pain has let up. I get more of a sore feeling in my collar bone and neck but I am still only able to lift my arm up about 1 foot out to the side & almost 3/4 forward. They say my trap. muscle isn't being fed from the nerve so it is unable to support my shoulder which is why I cant lift my arm. Does anyone have trouble raising their arm up? I'm wondering how long this will take to regain back my movement. My strength has come back alot for I go to the gym faithfully at least 3 times a week. Last year I could only curl 1/2 lb. This year 8 lbs. I do physical therapy exersizes on my own and I go to a chiropracter twice a week.
Donna

yes donna thats like me with raising my arm and the aceing in same area.i have been like this now 7 months...i would like to chat.my email is

wendy_purton@hotmail.com