Effectiveness of physiotherapy interventions in a case of postoperative onset brachial neuritis in 7 weeks pregnant woman

Abstract

Brachial neuritis (BN) is an uncommon condition characterized by the acute onset of excruciating unilateral shoulder pain followed by flaccid paralysis of the shoulder and parascapular muscles. Treatment is largely symptomatic in patients with BN, and opiate analgesia often is necessary in the initial period. The purpose of this case report is to describe the physiotherapy intervention strategies and report its effectiveness in the management of BN in a 28-year-old pregnant female who presented with the complaints of sharp pain over the left shoulder, arm, and scapula for 15 days. The condition was managed on the basis of clinical presentations with supervised and unsupervised physiotherapy intervention for 4 months, without any medications, as she denied taking any nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug or steroid for the management of pain. The supervised physiotherapy interventions consisted of patient education, postural correction, exercise therapy, electrotherapy, and counseling for approximately 45–60 min a day for 5 days a week. The effectiveness of the physiotherapy intervention was followed for 4 months, and the symptom-specific outcome measures were reapplied. Physiotherapy interventions were found to have promising positive outcomes in the symptom management of the BN with increased patient satisfaction.