brachial plexus injury

[dmw13]

Does anyone know if injury to the brachial plexus can lead to enlarged axillary lymph nodes on that side?

[BethAG]

I had shoulder pain that got worse as the year went on, I figured I hurt myself shoveling snow, but I noticed it wasn't getting better slowly worse until just moving my head, or the movement of breathing hurt. Got an MRI, it said axillary lymph node swollen, rubbing against brachial nerve, weird. Anyway I thought I was going to die of breast cancer when looking this up.  The problem was I was in severe hyperthyroidism, didn't know this, but as soon as I got my numbers good my the pain went away. If my thyroid medicine is off the first thing that starts to hurt is my armpit then my shoulder. So you never know what causes some things.

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hi.

This was definitely a neurological problem. I am not sure if the lymph nodes are related. But a biopsy will definitely help.

Please do not let this situation occupy your productivity. I am sure you will get to the root of this pretty soon.

Regards

[dmw13]

Thank you again for taking the time to help me.  I did have an MRI of the neck which was negative. My shoulder MRIs aren't showing anything either. I had basically a "dead arm" for about 2 months after the accident and there were times where I thought someone was pouring boiling water down my shoulder/arm.  I still have tingling in the 4th and 5th fingers on my left hand which my MD said is ulnar neuropathy and the left side of my neck and my left shoulder hurt constantly.   I tried to get an EMG back in October but my insurance company denied it.  The most frustrating part is not knowing what is going on.  

Thank you again.

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

Please do not avoid the biopsy. It is only going to make things easier for you and your doctors. A biopsy will answer the questions.

Since you were in an accident and have neck pain, did you have an MRI of the cervical spine ?

Regards

[dmw13]

Thank you so much for answering my question.  I was in a car accident this past august and have undiagnosed neck and shoulder pain since then. A few people have mentioned it could be a brachial plexus injury.  I've had 2 shoulder MRIs which were negative except for enlarged axillary lymph nodes which is concerning.  They are not at all palpable and my doctors are stumped as to what is going on. They do not know if the shoulder problem is causing the enlarged lymph nodes or the lymph nodes are causing the shoulder pain.  I think the next step is a biopsy but I really don't want to go through that if its just due to trauma from the accident.  I'm an otherwise healthy 29 year old woman...I just have a sore shoulder.  Not sure where to go from here...

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

It is rare to have a lymph node enlarged as a result of brachial plexus injury. The cause of the plexus injury, however, can lead to a lymph node enlargement. If the injury is due to a penetrating trauma, the accompanying infection may lead to an enlarged lymph node.

Are you sure the swelling is a lymph node ? There are reports of nerve tumors being mistaken for lymph nodes.

How is the lymph node to touch ? Is it hard/soft and mobile/fixed ?

Do you have accompanying fever or any other symptoms ?

Regards