A large grouping of nerves, the spinal cord, travel down from our brain, through the spinal column. Smaller groups of nerves exit at different points along the vertebrae to serve the different parts of our bodies. Many nerves, rather than going straight out to specific parts of our bodies, meet with other nerves and form a complex nerve network we call a plexus. We have several plexus in our body. Perhaps the best known is the solar plexus.

The Brachial Plexus
is located near our shoulders. It is composed of nerves from the lower back, lower and middle neck. They interconnect forming the brachial plexus, then branch out to serve different points such as the hands, fingers, wrists, elbows and shoulders.

Brachial Plexus injury
is fairly common. Even though it is usually injury to the nerves where they leave the openings between the vertebra, the foramina. The injury causes the openings to become narrower - stenosis - and this “pinches” or compresses the nerve usually causing pain in the area served by the nerve.

    Nerves can be “pinched” from: arthritis, awkward sleeping positions, car accidents (whiplash), childhood injuries, sports (particularly using a racquet), even chronic emotional stress.

Symptoms of Brachial Plexus injury
may be felt as stiffness or pain in the neck or shoulder, or radiating down the arm, wrist, hand, or fingers. It may be numbness, heat or cold feelings, or swelling. It sometimes appears as numbness in one area and pain in another; muscle spasm , muscle weakness, or “pins and needles.”

    Nerves interact in very complex ways. Brachial plexus damage has been reported as a cause of problems such as: painful or stiff head and neck motion; migraine; dizziness; thyroid and nasal problems; low back pain and many more. Chiropractic treatment is really a necessity if you have problems with hands, fingers, wrists, elbows or shoulders. Treatment can relieve the stress on nerves and allow your spine and the rest of your body to function normally.