Movement post surgery

[Savannahsmom]

My daughter is scheduled to have 2 nerves grafted this month to hopefully help her bpi. My question is this: The surgeons say it usually takes 4-6 months before any movement returns to biceps or deltoid area. Has anyone had a faster success rate with this? I am hopeing. Also, has anyones child that had this done that has a contracture or shortening gotten any worse? They told us to anticipate this and expect another possible surgery due to this. I am new to all of this and would just so appreciate any input. Thanks! Heather

[francine]

Heather,

these are good questions!

The reason the results don't come in faster is because the nerves have to grow in again - completely - from the beginning again. They grow at approximately one inch a month - so 4-6 months is how long it should take for the nerve to grow down to the biceps.

The good news is that people see recovery from primary for a very long time. Our doc said up to 5 years! All you to do is get through that waiting period though - it's a tough one but you'll take part in one of the greatest lessons in the life of a mom with a child who has a bpi - patience!

About contractures - this comes directly from muscle imbalances which almost cannot be avoided for the majority of children. One muscle is innervated and the opposing muscle is not yet innervated so it's an out of balance condition...the one side just keeps on tightening and tightening.

I do know of one little one that didn't need the surgery for the contractures (TCH calls it the mod quad) so anything is possible right?

When is the surgery scheduled? Where?

Hope everything goes well and is greatly successful,
-francine

[carron]

Thomas Had primary surgery Oct.23 2001 he had three nerve graft .2 partial torn c5-6 with a large nuroma over it an c-7 was a complete rupture. He had an elbow contractur before surgery but did not after surgery until about a 2 months ago his bicep came back and is overpowering everything. He has hand and wrist movement "he had that before surgery" He never has had any shoulder, We were also told he would need another surgery for his shoulder and we will be doing that sometime in the next 9 months, Thomas is 11 months old. I hope this helps you can e-mail me if you have any more ? carron.sparks@verizon.net

[Savannahsmom]

Thanks so much for the information. I will have to be patient and just wait for good results hopefully. She is having her surgery August 30th at Childrens Hospital at St. Louis(Were in KY). They have a bpi treatment center there. Thank you for telling me about the contractures. I for some reason was thinking it might be solved from surgery until I spoke with the doctors.

[karen r]

Heather, the Ohio Erb's Palsy/Brachial Plexus Injury Support Group is having our annual picnic at the Columbus Zoo on June 1st. Other families from KY will be there! If you're interested in coming, registration & info. are at:
http://members.aol.com/kritz74433

We'd love to meet you!

[francine]

Heather.... I have an awareness project that I"m working on - trying to get parents who go to bpi clinics around the world to document their experiences there... if you go to my site and click on experiences at other hospitals, I have one page that I did for a little girl named Sarah - she went to Boston Children's and saw Dr. Waters. If you are interested - I'd love to have a page about your sweety and all about St. Louis. All you need to do is take lots of pictures and then write up your story - send it to me and I do the rest. Interested?

Check it out and see ok?
http://www.injurednewborn.com/maia/homepage.html

hope to see you at the Ohio picnic?
-francine

[browning93]

Savannah's Mom, Our daughter Michaela didn't have her primary surgery till she was 11 months old. She is 5 1/2 years old now and we are STILL seeing recovery from her first surgery. Francine was right about the nerve growth being one inch at a time, it makes it a slow process but remember the new nerves need that time to grow and for her body to recognize they are there. If she went from none or limited feeling to full feeling all at once it would drive her nuts because she's not used to that.It would just be too much all at once. Also, our doctors told us not to control Michaela's fat intake even after the 2 year mark. Don't overindulge, but still use whole milk,and good fats such as canola oil, oliveoil and real butter (limited), not margarine. The purpose for this,which I found very surprising, is that the body uses the fats for new nerve growth and repair. This is what the doctor at Arnold Palmers Evaluation clinic told us when she was 18 months old. Hope this gives you something to hope for. LeeAnne