Steroid Injection Will Not Help Your Condition
A steroid injection is not indicated for your symptoms of left arm heaviness and wrist weakness with preserved finger function, as this presentation suggests a neurological problem (likely radial nerve or cervical radiculopathy) rather than a localized inflammatory condition that would respond to corticosteroid injection.
Why Steroids Are Not the Answer
Your symptom pattern—heavy arm, weak wrist, but intact finger extension and flexion—points to a nerve problem, not inflammation of a tendon or joint. Steroid injections are used for localized inflammatory conditions like tennis elbow, shoulder bursitis, or joint arthritis, not for nerve-related weakness 1.
What Your Symptoms Suggest
Neurological Weakness Pattern
- Preserved finger extension and flexion indicates that the intrinsic hand muscles and distal nerve function remain intact 2
- Wrist weakness with arm heaviness suggests either:
- Radial nerve involvement (affecting wrist extensors specifically)
- Cervical radiculopathy (nerve root compression in the neck)
- Central nervous system pathology (stroke, though less likely given finger preservation)
Critical Distinction from Stroke
- In stroke patients, functional electrical stimulation is recommended for wrist motor impairment, not steroid injections 2
- Stroke rehabilitation guidelines emphasize that patients with at least 20 degrees of wrist extension and 10 degrees of finger extension are candidates for constraint-induced therapy, not corticosteroid treatment 2
What You Actually Need
Immediate Evaluation Required
- Neurological examination to assess:
- Specific muscle strength testing (wrist extensors, elbow flexors/extensors, shoulder abductors)
- Sensory examination of the arm
- Deep tendon reflexes
- Cervical spine range of motion
Diagnostic Testing
- MRI of cervical spine if radiculopathy suspected
- Nerve conduction studies/EMG to localize nerve pathology
- Brain imaging if any concern for central causes
Appropriate Treatment Options
- Functional electrical stimulation (FES) is recommended for patients with wrist motor impairment from neurological causes, showing improvements in muscle force 2
- Physical therapy focusing on strengthening and range of motion 2
- Treatment of underlying cause once identified (nerve decompression, cervical spine treatment, etc.)
Common Pitfall to Avoid
Do not pursue steroid injection without first establishing the diagnosis. Injecting steroids into or near a compressed nerve could potentially worsen the condition or delay appropriate treatment. The heaviness and weakness pattern you describe requires neurological evaluation, not anti-inflammatory treatment 2.