S40-S49: Injuries to the shoulder and upper arm

S44: Injury of nerves at shoulder and upper arm level

The S44 category encompasses a group of conditions related to injury of nerves at the shoulder and upper arm level. These injuries can occur as a result of accidents, falls, sports-related incidents, or direct blows. They cause damage to the nerves that control the muscles and sensation in the shoulder and upper arm. Common symptoms include pain, weakness, and numbness in the affected area. These symptoms might appear immediately after the injury, but sometimes they can take several hours or even days to fully develop. The severity and type of symptoms depend largely on the nature and extent of the nerve injury. On one end, mild injuries may cause temporary numbness or tingling sensations, while severe injuries could result in significant motor and sensory loss, possibly even leading to permanent paralysis of the affected muscles. Recoveries also vary and depend chiefly on the type and extent of the nerve damage - some injuries may resolve themselves naturally over time, while others might require medical intervention, such as physical therapy or surgical repair.