Horner's Syndrome

This board is for adults and teens to discuss issues relating to BPI since birth (OBPI).
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browning93
Posts: 230
Joined: Thu Jan 24, 2002 9:34 pm

Horner's Syndrome

Post by browning93 »

After reading momcares post, I really have to wonder how mild the injury is. Sounds like T1 involvement with waiters tip and facial issues.

I took Michaela to see a local pediatric eye neurologist last year when she was four. When she was born the Horner's was so bad in her baby pictures the left eye looks almost completely closed. It improved with age. It wasn't until I took her with me for my yearly diabetes retinal eye exam that the eye doctor noticed her Horner's.Most people don't even notice it any more but since he was an eye specialist I guess he did. He told me they had a pediatric eye neurologist on staff and he could do surgery to correct Horner's Syndrome. She was 4 at this time and NOBODY had EVER suggested anything could be done for her eye. I thought this was deplorable. With all the new things out that doctor's don't know about BPI's and related conditions, that our children are just expected to live with it. Anyway, I took her and he checked her out and said hers had resolved itself enough that it didn't warrant surgical intervention.This other tidbit was something everyone with Horner's should know. He told me I needed to get Michaela a Medic Alert as soon as possible which I did. The reason... If we were in an accident or for some other reason she was unconcious and I was too, or I wasn't with her,like at school, when the paramedics check her pupils, with the uneven dilation, they would assume there was a brain injury with pressure building on the brain. The course of treatment would be to drill holes in the skull to relieve the pressure. This is not something you want them to do unneccessarily!! Therefore she now wears a medic alert!
I still found it very interesting that horner's could be corrected surgically, at least the eye part.
LeeAnne
jennyb
Posts: 1183
Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2001 5:24 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: January 1980 Yamaha RD200 vs 16 wheeler truck, result, 1 totally paralysed right arm. I was 21, now 54. I had no surgery, I don't regret this. Decided to totally ignore limitations (easily done aged 21) adapted very quickly to one handed life, got married, had 3 kids, worked- the effect of the injury on my life (once the pain stopped being constant) was minimal and now, aged 54, I very rarely even think of it, unless I bash it or it gets cold, then I wish I'd had it amputated :) Except for a steering knob on my car, I have no adaptations to help with life, mainly because I honestly don't think of myself as disabled and the only thing I can't do is peel potatoes, which is definitely a good thing.

Re: Horner's Syndrome

Post by jennyb »

that's interesting, when I was taken into the ER after the accident in which I got my bpi, they checked my pupils and saw the Horners, they told me that is the main indicator to ER staff that a bpi is present, if they see Horner's they immediately immobilise the arm. Glad they did that and didn't drill my head! This was the UK though, systems are different and knowledge of bpi is widespread among medics there, probably because of all the bikers! I'll have to check with ER staff here in NZ whether they are bpi/Horners aware.
The police are a different story though, when my Horners was bad at the beginning they always assumed my different sized pupils were as a result of exotic drug and drink cocktails, I got breathalysed regularly. Maybe we Brits need a 'police alert' card about Horners instead:0) Horners usually resolves itself, my pupils look almost the same size now but the eyelid is still a tiny bit droopy, it took many years.
Stephanie
Posts: 72
Joined: Sun Nov 04, 2001 10:20 pm

Re: Horner's Syndrome

Post by Stephanie »

Okay, what does this mean? I have a left
OBPI, but my right eyebrow is lower than my left one, and my right eyelid is subsequently smaller and droopier than my left one. My smile is slightly crooked and slants up to the left. Is this Horner's on the opposite of the BPI side...or is my face just a little crooked?? Is Horner's always on the BPI side?
Now you guys have me wondering....

-Stephanie
jennyb
Posts: 1183
Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2001 5:24 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: January 1980 Yamaha RD200 vs 16 wheeler truck, result, 1 totally paralysed right arm. I was 21, now 54. I had no surgery, I don't regret this. Decided to totally ignore limitations (easily done aged 21) adapted very quickly to one handed life, got married, had 3 kids, worked- the effect of the injury on my life (once the pain stopped being constant) was minimal and now, aged 54, I very rarely even think of it, unless I bash it or it gets cold, then I wish I'd had it amputated :) Except for a steering knob on my car, I have no adaptations to help with life, mainly because I honestly don't think of myself as disabled and the only thing I can't do is peel potatoes, which is definitely a good thing.

Re: Horner's Syndrome

Post by jennyb »

I have no idea Stephanie....maybe there was some bilateral involvement when you were delivered? ie T1 on the non bpi side damaged?? Horners can occur without a corresponding bpi, T1 damage is the commonest but not the only cause of Horners. Here's some info, I was AMAZED to find out about the sticking out ear on the affected side because I have one!!!! I think it was there before the bpi....my mum said I always slept on one side or they would both stick out :0) any of you obpi got a sticky out ear on the bpi side? http://www.jeghers.com/annts/horner.htm
momcares
Posts: 17
Joined: Tue Mar 26, 2002 5:16 pm

Re: Horner's Syndrome

Post by momcares »

I've never been told which nerves were stretched and noone has ever mentioned Horner's Syndrome. I think my Pediatrician is trying to keep my knowledge at bay. All he ever says is "WAIT AND SEE" and "no he's fine", "coming along great", we can't assume that Antonio's bronchial infections are the result of his aspirating. I've been trying for months to get into some type of specialist to connect all of his issues. The doctor that delivered Toni is in the same Clinic as his pediatrician and the pediatrician's father founded the clinic. (imagine that)Oh yeah, and the neurologist(s) I've seen that won't give him an EMG (and I realize it is a painful procedure) have both been golfing buddies with the pediatrician for years. Kinda dumb to tell me that huh? So, I don't necessarily think his docs are uneducated, I just think they're trying to avoid a lawsuit. (my opinion anyway)

Crystal G.
Kathleen
Posts: 1012
Joined: Sat Nov 03, 2001 5:33 pm

Re: Horner's Syndrome

Post by Kathleen »

Stephanie...

My right ear is higher...LOL... they always try to straighten my glasses and then have to adjust them...

I am lopp sided...LOL... You need to ask you doctor to check your eyes... and ask about Horner's... really Nancy said the same thing... they never mention it unless we do... I wonder if they think we are so old we know....LOL...

Does your face sweat?

Kath
Stephanie
Posts: 72
Joined: Sun Nov 04, 2001 10:20 pm

Re: Horner's Syndrome

Post by Stephanie »

This is so eerie to me...I can't even believe it!

So...I log onto this message board, and before I start to read this post, I take off my glasses. Then I put them on the desk next to me to try to restraighten them for the 20th time. This is ever since they were perfectly balanced at the optrician's just last week. Can't get them straight on my face! Maybe on the table, but not over my ears! The right "leg" always needs to be bent down! That would make sense now, since my right eye and eyebrow are droopier than on the OBPI side (opposite Horner's?). I go back to the eye doctor's office in a few weeks. I'm asking about Horner's, definitely!

-Stephanie
Kathleen
Posts: 1012
Joined: Sat Nov 03, 2001 5:33 pm

Re: Horner's Syndrome

Post by Kathleen »

Here is another site for Horner's

http://www.revoptom.com/handbook/sect6g.htm

Kath
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