Suprascapular nerve entrapment syndrome (SNES) is a condition that involves irritation or damage to a collection of nerves that traverse through the shoulder area. When this nerve group is compressed, it can lead to a variety of uncomfortable symptoms in your shoulder, arm and hand. Proactive treatment is recommended to calm symptoms and prevent any additional nerve irritation. Below, we explain how suprascapular nerve entrapment syndrome is typically treated with the help of a shoulder specialist.
Causes And Symptoms Of Suprascapular Nerve Entrapment Syndrome
Your suprascapular nerve is the lateral branch of the superior trunk of the brachial plexus, and it is a mixed nerve, meaning it provides both motor and sensory information to the muscles in the shoulder and arm region. Oftentimes your suprascapular nerve becomes entrapped as a result of acute damage to the shoulder region or as a result of repetitive trauma that leads to degeneration of the shoulder joint. It can commonly present alongside other shoulder issues like a rotator cuff tear, scapular fracture, clavicle fracture, direct trauma or a shoulder dislocation. Falls from a great height, car accidents and trauma during athletic activity are all common sources of trauma that can result in suprascapular nerve compression.
Symptoms of suprascapular nerve entrapment include:
- Shoulder pain
- Shooting discomfort down the arms
- Numbness
- Muscle weakness
- Limited function in the shoulder, arms or hands
Because the condition oftentimes develops as a result of direct trauma or alongside other shoulder issues, it’s not uncommon for suprascapular nerve entrapment to go undiagnosed or overlooked. If you are dealing with any of the above symptoms, especially after experiencing trauma to the shoulder region, set up an appointment with your primary care physician or a shoulder specialist like Dr. Holloway.
Diagnosing And Treating Suprascapular Nerve Entrapment Syndrome
If you present to Dr. Holloway or a similar shoulder specialist with the above symptoms, he’ll ask you about the onset of symptoms, how they are affecting your daily life and what actions cause them to worsen or alleviate. From there, he’ll begin a hands-on assessment of the shoulder and arm area, and he’ll likely have you perform a few simple movements to see how the area responds to controlled stress. X-rays, MRIs, ultrasounds, CT scans or nerve function testing may all help to pinpoint the precise issues forming within the shoulder area.
Most mild or moderate forms of SNES respond well to a proactive conservative care plan, and your doctor can walk you through the specifics of your individualized program. Oftentimes patients will be told to protect the area with rest and activity modifications while also working to control symptoms with anti-inflammatories and ice. After a short while, treatment may transition to restoring normal movement in the area, and that is typically done with a controlled physical therapy program. Heating pads can also help to prepare the area for PT and stretching exercises, so your physician will explain when to use ice and when to use heat for your benefit. Most patients see an improvement or a complete alleviation of their symptoms over the course of 6-12 weeks of conservative efforts.
If conservative efforts fail or you are dealing with a severe nerve entrapment, a surgical approach may be necessary. In many instances, your shoulder specialist will recommend a minimally invasive arthroscopic procedure to debride and decompress the affected area. This minimally invasive approach limits tissue damage and allows the patient to make a faster recovery. Following the decompression procedure, you can expect to follow many of the treatments previously listed in the conservative care program to help restore normal function and movement in the shoulder joint. Many patients notice significant improvement in their shoulder within 8-12 weeks after surgery, but a complete recovery can take anywhere from 6-12 months given individual factors.
The sooner you work to correct the issue, the less likely it is that you’ll need surgery to fix the problem, so don’t wait. If you’re experiencing any of the issues listed above, connect with your primary care physician or a specialist like Dr. Holloway. For more information, or for help with a different shoulder concern, give Dr. Holloway and his team a call today at (865) 410-7887.
