Doctors define the brachial plexus as the network of nerves that give movement and feeling in the arms and hands. A serious brachial plexus injury involves sudden damage to these nerves, and can lead to weakness, loss of feeling and/or loss of movement in the shoulders, arms, or hands.

The brachial plexus starts at the neck and crosses the upper chest to the underarm. Injury to this network of nerves often occurs when the arm is forcibly pulled or stretched.

Mild brachial plexus injuries can heal without treatment. More severe injuries may require surgery to regain function of the arm or hand.

Radiculopathy can result in neurological deficits, which include numbness, slowed reflexes and weakness. These symptoms may radiate outwards from the source and into the arms, legs, hands and feet. Paresthesia, the pins-and-needles feeling that occompanies numbness, may also radiate down into the arms and legs and can range from achy to shocking or burning.