STROKE

STROKE - A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of your brain is interrupted or reduced, depriving brain tissue of oxygen and nutrients. Within minutes, brain cells begin to die. A stroke is a medical emergency. Prompt treatment is crucial. Early action can minimize brain damage and potential complications. A stroke may be caused by a blocked artery (ischemic stroke) or the leaking or bursting of a blood vessel (hemorrhagic stroke). Some people may experience only a temporary disruption of blood flow to the brain (transient ischemic attack, or TIA) that doesn't cause permanent damage.

CAUSES

- Blood pressure readings higher than 120/80 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg)- Cigarette smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke- High cholesterol- Diabetes- Obstructive sleep apnea- Cardiovascular disease, including heart failure, heart defects, heart infection or abnormal heart rhythm- Personal or family history of stroke, heart attack or transient ischemic attack.

SHOULDER-HAND SYNDROME

Shoulder-Hand Syndrome is a relatively common occurrence after stroke. Typically the person has a stroke which leaves them paralyzed on one side. Recovery of the paralysis varies between patients, but often the legs recover quicker then the upper extremity. For some unknown reason, some people are left with significant weakness in the upper extremity that can be quite painful. When the pain is severe in the hand and shoulder on the paralyzed side, the condition is known as Shoulder Hand Syndrome.

SYMPTOMS

-Shoulder Pain

-Hand Pain

-Numbness

-Elbow Pain

-Wrist Pain

-Tingling

CAUSES

Causes include injuries such as falling on the hand, breaking the wrist bone, heart attack, stroke, and possibly use of certain drugs (such as barbiturates). The precise way that shoulder-hand syndrome develops is not known, although some people seem more likely to develop the disorder than others.

ERB'S PALSY

ERB'S PALSY - Erb's palsy is a paralysis of the arm caused by injury to the upper group of the arm's main nerves, specifically the severing of the upper trunk C5-C6 nerves. These form part of the brachial plexus, comprising the ventral rami of spinal nerves C5–C8 and thoracic nerve. The paralysis can be partial or complete; the damage to each nerve can range from bruising to tearing. The most commonly involved root is C5 as this is mechanically the furthest point from the force of traction, therefore, the first/most affected. Erb–Duchenne palsy presents as a lower motor neuron syndrome associated with sensibility disturbance and vegetative phenomena.

The signs of Erb's Palsy include loss of sensation in the arm and paralysis and atrophy of the deltoid, biceps, and brachialis muscles. "The position of the limb, under such conditions, is characteristic: the arm hangs by the side and is rotated medially; the forearm is extended and pronated. The arm cannot be raised from the side; all power of flexion of the elbow is lost, as is also supination of the forearm". The resulting biceps damage is the main cause of this classic physical position commonly called "waiter's tip."

The brachial plexus is a network of nerves near the neck that give rise to all the nerves of the arm. These nerves provide movement and feeling to the shoulder, arm, hand, and fingers. Palsy means weakness, and brachial plexus birth palsy causes arm weakness and loss of motion.

 Symptoms

• Weakness in one arm
• Loss of feeling in the arm
• Partial or total paralysis of the arm