The human body never ceases to amaze humankind. Scientists and researchers have studied the human body for centuries to be able to provide in-depth information. We can agree the complex system of the human body such as the nerve system is a marvel and we should be grateful for having a healthy functional nerve. Otherwise, you would end up trying to find a doctor if the nerve such as the radial nerve is damaged. Before probing further on what happens if this specific nerve is damaged, here is a little explanation about the nerve itself.
The radial nerve is a nerve extending from the brachial plexus, a network of nerves responsible for the shoulder, arm and hand movement and sensation. It carries signals from the spinal cord to the respective part of the upper limbs. The main function of the radial nerve is to innervate muscle allowing the movement of straightening elbow, wrist, hand and fingers. The other function is being responsible for senses like touch, pain and temperature changes to the portions of the back of the upper arm, forearm and back of the hand including fingers.
Damages to the radial nerve will result in some form of inability to move or senses of the upper limb. Since there are many other nerves that also provide the arm and hand to be functional, it is necessary for healthcare professionals to identify which exact nerve is causing such symptoms to the respective part of the upper limb. One of the signs that a healthcare professional will look for is a wrist drop. A person with a wrist drop usually shows signs of a damaged radial nerve. Wrist drop is characterised by the inability to extend the hand at the wrist or even straighten the finger and at times it also shows sign of numbness or loss of sensation of the hand especially the back of the arm and forearm including the fingertip of finger. It is advisable to treat wrist injury as soon as you can as the pain may affect your lifestyle.
There are numerous causes that could lead to a damaged radial nerve. These causes can be either a visible one such as in penetrative trauma caused by accidents or crime, or caused by invisible causes that cannot be seen through the naked eyes. Here are some examples of the causes:
1- Radial Tunnel Syndrome: Groups of symptoms include fatigue and dull aching pain on the upper forearm or the back of the wrist or hand. This syndrome occurs as a result of repetitive movement of pushing, pulling, gripping, bending or pinching of the wrist, typically happening in sports and some jobs. These cause overuse of muscle which then compresses the radial nerve. Since it does not directly damage the radial nerve and cause permanent damage, therapy usually aims to remove the compression by either drug or surgery.
2- Radial nerve palsy: Other names of this disorder are crutch palsy, Saturday night palsy or honeymooner’s palsy. The name is taken after an episode of the symptoms of radial nerve palsy exhibited after a person’s arm is placed over a chair or crutches for a long period of time. This is usually caused by injury to the radial nerve such as in arm fractures, penetrating wounds, ischemia and even compression.
3- Cheiralgia paresthetica: Other names are Wartenberg syndrome and handcuff neuropathy. It is due to trauma or compression of the superficial radial nerve by a constriction to the wrist such as wearing a watch band, bracelet or handcuff. This disorder does not cause problems with the hand or arm movement and rarely shows signs of wrist drop. Common symptoms include paraesthesia characterised by abnormal sense of numbness, tingling or burning sensation.
