Attention, chocolate lovers: You may not be able to help yourselves. Swiss and British scientists have linked the widespread love of chocolate to a chemical "signature" that may be programmed into our metabolic systems.
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Radial Nerve Injury
- Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
- Symptoms & Signs
- Diagnosis & Tests
- Prevention & Expectations
- Treatment & Monitoring
- Attribution
- View All
Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
A radial nerve injury involves damage to the radial nerve, which allows sensation and movement in part of the arm. The radial nerve attaches to the skin and muscles of certain areas of the arm, forearm, and hand. It is responsible for muscle movement and sensation in these areas. Someone with an injury to the radial nerve lose function in these areas.
In most cases, the radial nerve is damaged by trauma, repeated use of the nerve, or by the nerve being compressed by other structures. The injury may be permanent.
What are the causes and risks of the injury?
Radial nerve injury can be caused by a number of activities, including:
Rarely, no cause can be found for the nerve damage. In these cases, the injury may come from certain repeated motions of the arm, known as a repetitive stress injury.
A radial nerve injury may be permanent, causing lifelong weakness and numbness, and sometimes chronic pain. In some people, the muscles can shrink and cause the arm to become deformed over time. In other people, some or all of the arm's function may be regained over time.