Will Erb’s palsy recover on its own?

Q: I had a difficult delivery recently, which hurt my son’s right hand and now he is suffering from total Erb’s palsy. The doctor has asked us to do physiotherapy (stimulation) for 3 months and they would do MRI followed by surgery if required. Will he recover on his own? What should we do? Please advise.

A:Majority of cases of Erb’s palsy recover on their own over 1-3 months depending upon extent of injury to the nerves. Thus it is best to wait with physiotherapy to ensure full range of movements at the joints.