Brachial Plexus Surgical Recovery

[timmygirl711]

Hi all! My name is Kelly and my fiancee is a RTBP since February 17th 2007(snowmobile accident). We traveled to Mayo and had surgery on June 12th. He had avulsed C6-T1. C5 was still in tact but he had no signs of any muscle movement from the intact nerve. He had the gracilis muscle/sural nerve/ intercostal nerve surgery. We are now about 2 1/2 months post surgery. We were wondering how everyone's recovery from surgery progressed. When did you all start seeing any signs of movement. We are doing PT at home with DC Voltage stimulation as prescribed. For pain he takes Lyrica 450/day, Oxycontin 180mg/day, Methadone 10-40mg/day, Cymbalta 120mg/day, and Oxycodone 15mg as needed for breakthrough pain. Drugs tend to make him very tired. Any ideas for those who take similar medications. We are also looking into one handed video game controllers. He loved to play X-Box and Playstaion 2 but can no longer play. Any ideas for controllers or adapations for game play. Thanks all and hope that your recoveries are progressing!

[shaunnb]

good luck with the recovery! im post op too. had my operation on the 4th of August 07. My c5 and c6.5 nerve grafts in all. want to get onto ems stimulators, but they are not big here in Australia. how does he find it? does the nerve have to be innervated for it to function? best of luck!

[timmygirl711]

Good luck with your recovery! When he had the surgery at Mayo they sent him home with a DC Voltage stimulator to keep the gracilis muscle contracting. We put one part on his arm just below the elbow then the other part moves along the paddle that was placed with the gracilis. It makes the muscle contract. Doesn't help with pain or anything just keeps that muscle moving!

[Joy in FL]

Wow reading the list of drugs made me tired. I can only imagine how he must feel! LOL I take Lyrica and Ultram daily. Then use Lorcet for break through pain. Which this week has been everyday!

Everybody has to find the right mix of medication for them. Perhaps talk to the doctor about stopping the use of one drug and see how he fairs. Then another and so on. When I started the Lyrica it did not make me tired. Nor did the Ultram. Thus, the reason I use them as maintenance drugs.

Out of the drugs you mention. I would think the Oxycontin and Oxycodone could be the culprit for tiredness. Just a thought. Like I said everyone's bodies react differently so I could be wrong.

I hope the surgery turns out well. As with any surgery it takes time. Be patient, listen to the doctor and follow through on all the physical therapy.

As for the game controllers. I asked my son and he said without really knowing what kind of games Tim likes to play the best bet right now would be a joy stick. He said there would be little movement needed and most of the buttons would be easily reached with one hand.

Good Luck,

Joy
LTBP (1991)

[Karl]

Hi Kelly, try the Nintendo Wii. http://www.game-accessibility.com/forum ... 1066#p1066

[swhite1]

I missed my GranTourismo 4 on my PS2 platform so much I reconfigured my controller using only the '?' button for acceleration and the '?' button for braking. I also switched from left to right analog for steering. I applied an automatic transmission as well. I have a lot of extra buttons if anyone needs one...so retarded I am. I wouldn't go so far as to say it is easy but I do get to go out and drive on photo shoots. That is something I never did because I was too busy racing. I'm glad I was at 92%, had all my licenses with tons of credits.
Best of luck
Scott
Oh yes the T.E.N.S. Unit. I have one but I don't get any response from it. Very strange indeed as I have had a 'transcutanial electronic nerve stimulator for over a dozen years following up on other traumas. I can dial it to the max and get absolutely no reaction. When they first applied it to my LTBPI I was hoping, actually I had no other thought other than 'well this most certainly will invoke some sort of response'. When it didn't is when I realized there was more to my injury than I thought.Man did that bum me out for the longest time until I forgot what I was bummed out about...lol.
I take about the same meds. I take a lot of gabapentin(neurontin)as well.

[timmygirl711]

Thanks guys for the great ideas and link! I am looking at the racing wheel for the PC and games to go with those. Anyone else with some ideas or comments about recovery from surgery?

Thanks again
Kelly

[swhite1]

Kelly, are you Timmy's girl? Just curious about your handle.
Nerf(tm)... makes a controller for PS2 platforms. I have a wide extension on my right hand, that's from thumb tip to pinky tip with hand/fingers extended, and I could wrap my hand around that controller. Also I think it's Mad Catz that have a 'compact' controller. Both can be found at Best Buy or Circuit City.
Best of luck and I hope your fiance doesn't spend too much time playing games....lol