Parsonage Turner Syndrome and Receiving Social Security Disability
Parsonage Turner syndrome, a neurological disorder, is one of the many types of peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy is the medical term that refers to any type of damage that takes place that affects your peripheral nervous system. When you experience damage to your peripheral nervous system, it causes interference with these critical connections with your brain. Peripheral neuropathy is similar to static on a telephone line. Because of peripheral neuropathy, messages between your brain and the rest of your body are distorted and sometimes interrupted. Over 20 million people in the United States are afflicted with peripheral neuropathy. Nearly 60% of everyone who has diabetes, also has peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy is an extremely broad disorder. There are more than 100 types of peripheral neuropathy that have been identified. Each one of these forms of peripheral neuropathy has its own characteristic pattern of development, signs and symptoms and prognosis. About the Nervous System and Peripheral Nervous System The nerves of your body are divided into two systems. Your central nervous system is one of these two systems. It is made up of the nerves in your brain and spinal column. The other nervous system is your peripheral nervous system. It is composed of all of the nerves in your body other than those in your central nervous system. Your peripheral nervous system is a vast communications network that sends information from your central nervous system to every other part of your body. Your peripheral nervous system is also what sends sensory information back to your brain. It sends back messages, such as your hand is burned or your foot is cold. Parsonage Turner syndrome is evidenced by pain and decreased movement or sensation in your arm and shoulder. Parsonage Turner syndrome is usually brought about by some type of nerve difficulty. Parsonage Turner syndrome is called by other names. It is also referred to as brachial plexus dysfunction, brachial plexopathy and neuropathy - brachial plexus. As stated earlier, Parsonage Turner syndrome results from nerve damage. Specifically, Parsonage Turner syndrome is caused by damage to your brachial plexus. Your brachial plexus is a network of nerves that starts near your shoulder and neck. Your brachial plexus regulates your hand, elbow, wrist and shoulder. The way that your brachial plexus does this is by conducting signals from your spine to your hand, arm and shoulder. Your brachial plexus is usually damaged by stretching injuries that include radiation therapy, pressure coming from tumors that are located in the area, birth trauma or a direct injury to the nerve.You could get Parsonage Turner syndrome from:
- ? Exposure to drugs, toxins or chemicals
- ? Inflammatory ailments like those that are caused by an immune system problem or a virus
- ? An injury to your brachial plexus that results from things like a car accident or contact sports, such as football, wrestling or hockey
- ? Birth defects that exert pressure on your neck area.
Signs and symptoms that you may have with Parsonage Turner syndrome
- Muscle flaccidity and wasting
- ? Numbness of your arm, shoulder or hand
- ? Pain in your shoulder
- ? Tingling, burning, pain or abnormal sensations where the location depends on your area that is injured
- ? Weakness in your arm, shoulder, hand or wrist.