Neuralgic amyotrophy as the primary cause of shoulder pain in a patient with rotator cuff tear

Abstract

A 66-year-old woman with no history of trauma presented with severe shoulder pain. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed rupture of the supraspinatus tendon, for which surgical treatment was considered. However, it was noted that shoulder pain was accompanied by weakness in the shoulder muscles, and the patient underwent electroneuromyographic examination, which revealed neuralgic amyotrophy. Following physical therapy and rehabilitation combined with appropriate medical therapy, her symptoms significantly improved. In cases with severe shoulder pain without a trauma history, characteristics of pain should be thoroughly analyzed and neuralgic amyotrophy considered in the differential diagnosis.

Parsonage-Turner Syndrome in a 9-Year-Old Boy

“…Initially, pain should be treated with NSAIDs, but this is often not sufficient, and patients require opioids for pain relief. Some patients show rapid pain relief with gabapentin (1,800 mg/24 hours) 20 . Every patient should participate in a physical therapy program to prevent muscle atrophy and relieve and improve paralysis and motor function.…”

Parsonage-Turner syndrome presenting with left shoulder pain and weakness: a case report

“…Shoulder pain is a significant part of the patients admitted to the physical medicine and rehabilitation outpatient clinic. Although there are many intrinsic and extrinsic causes of shoulder pain, the most common cause is known as subacromial impingement syndrome.In cases where shoulder pain is accompanied by weakness, brachial plexus, cervical roots, spinal cord and cranial system pathologies should be considered in the differential diagnosis.In this respect, PTS, which is a treatable disease with good prognosismay be seen as an important syndrome to be considered in the differential diagnosis of shoulder pain and weakness.The frequency of PTS is known as 1.64/100,000 and more common in 20-60 age range male population [2]. The most common cause of brachial plexopathies is known as trauma.…”

“…However, the syndrome has different names such as acute brachial neuropathy, acute brachial plexitis and idiopathic brachial plexopathy [1]. It is a clinical syndrome characterized by sudden onset, severe and mostly neuropathic charactershoulder pain and subsequently developing muscle weakness [2]. PTS frequently confused with shoulder and neck pathologies and the syndrome must be considered during the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with shoulder pain and weakness [3].…”

“…PTS frequently confused with shoulder and neck pathologies and the syndrome must be considered during the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with shoulder pain and weakness [3]. The frequency of PTS is known as 1.64/100,000 and more common in 20-60 age male population and is a treatable disease with good prognosis [2]. The aim of presenting this case report is to raise awareness of PTS and emphasize that it should be included in the differential diagnosis of shoulder pain and upper extremity weakness.…”