Neuropathy - radial nerve; Radial nerve palsy; Mononeuropathy

The goal of treatment is to allow you to use the hand and arm as much as possible. The health care provider should find and treat the cause, if possible. In some cases, no treatment is needed and you will recover slowly on your own.

Surgery to remove masses that press on the nerve may help.

Medical causes such as diabetes and kidney disease should be treated.

CONTROL OF SYMPTOMS

Medications may include:

• Over-the-counter analgesics or prescription pain medications to control pain (neuralgia)
• Anticonvulsant medicines (phenytoin, carbamazepine, gabapentin, and pregabalin) or tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline) to reduce stabbing pain
• Steroid (prednisone) injections around the nerve to reduce swelling may help some patients.

Whenever possible, avoid or minimize your use of medications to reduce the risk of side effects.

Other treatments include:

• Braces, splints, or other appliances to help you use the hand in severe cases
• Physical therapy to help maintain muscle strength

Occupational therapy and vocational therapy or counseling to suggest changes at the worksite may be needed.

If the cause of the nerve dysfunction can be found and successfully treated, there is a good chance that you will fully recover. In some cases, there may be partial or complete loss of movement or sensation.

Nerve pain may be uncomfortable and may last for a long period of time. If this occurs, see a pain specialist to ensure you have access to all pain treatment options.

• Mild to severe deformity of the hand
• Partial or complete loss of feeling in the hand
• Partial or complete loss of wrist or hand movement
• Recurrent or unnoticed injury to the hand

Call your health care provider if you have had an injury to the arm, and you develop numbness, tingling, or weakness.

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Radial nerve dysfunction

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Review Date: 09/26/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)