What Is the Brachial Plexus?

Let’s go over some information regarding chiropractic care and the brachial plexus. Before I define what the brachial plexus is, I want to let you know that the nervous system of your body controls and coordinates all the functions of your body. Your nervous system consists of your brain, your spinal cord, and all the nerves that go to every single cell, tissue and organ in your body.

This nervous system is very intricate; it reaches every inch of your body. The nervous system controls and coordinates all the functions in the body, and that’s what we, as chiropractors, really deal with on a daily basis.

Now, the Brachial Plexus

Let’s get into the brachial plexus. 

• Brachial refers to the arm
• A plexus is a network

The brachial plexus is a network of nerves. The nerves that make up the brachial plexus come out of your mid to lower neck and upper back. So these nerves come out from between the fifth, sixth and seventh cervical vertebrae and the first thoracic vertebra.

Those are the nerves that make up the brachial plexus, and those are the nerves that go down your arm, wrist and fingers. So, the brachial plexus nerves go to the joints and all the muscles of the arm.

What Happens If One of These Nerves Gets Pinched?

Now, there are various conditions that can occur when you get a pinched nerve in the neck or very upper back. That pinched nerve can create symptoms down the arm. That includes problems like these:

1. Carpal tunnel syndrome
2. Elbow problems
3. Shoulder problems like frozen shoulder or muscle tears in the rotator cuff muscle group

If any of these nerves in the brachial plexus get pinched due to vertebrae being out of alignment, you can get any or all of these symptoms above occurring down in the arm.

You might not even be focused on the neck and upper back vertebrae or nerves as being the source of the problem. You’re more focused on the arm as the problem, because this is where you’re feeling the pain. 

But you really have to trace back the source of the pain and go to your chiropractor and get evaluated so that your arm pain can be resolved. 

Finding Help for Shoulder, Arm or Wrist Pain

If you want to talk to me and go over some of your conditions that you have related to your shoulder, arm, wrist or hand, give my office a call. 

If you know somebody that has some of these problems, pass this article along to them. I look forward to seeing you in my office to help you gain a better life through chiropractic care. I hope to see you soon.