New injury

[Jason454]

Hi all. I am so glad that there are people out there that i can talk to about this. I am 6 weeks into my injury. I had too much alcohal to drink one night so i ended up falling asleep on my entire left arm for aprox 8 hrs and not waking up or moving. When I came too I couldn't move or feel my left arm at all so I was rushed to the hospital. The doctor told me that I had a brachial plexus injury and told me that my arm might come back but he is not sure when. After the first week I could wiggle my fingers a little and flex my wrist down but not up. My movement hasn't changed since then. I am in excruciating burning pain especially in my hand and fingers. I saw the doctor last week and he said my shoulder is subluxed(partially dislocated) from the loss of muscle mass. It is very painfull as well. It hurts my shoulder blade to sit up straight. I have an appointment booked with a specialist in a month to do some tests. i do PT on a regular basis to keep the joints supple. Anyone here of any case similiar to mine? Would it be possible to avulse my nerves from sleeping on my arm that long? I'm currently taking fentanl patch 20mic/g, oxycotin 5mg every 5 hrs and mobicox for pain. Any suggestions on dealing with the pain. It is really debilitating. This injury has really changed my life and I am looking forward to meeting new friends to tackle this new and hard life challange.

[s8n]

wow dude that's f'ed up!! never heard that. i got mine by drinkin too much and playin dumbass on a full size harley. the pole won. bout killed myself. needless to say i don't drink anymore. hate to hear it happenend to ya. the people on this site are great peeps and have alot of useful info. i myself am fully paralyzed and just live with it. i'm just getting used to the idea of being in pain and live with it. but if ya ever wanna shoot the shit just email me i'll talk to ya.
danielscheper@hotmail.com
daniel

[rbwalton]

My problem is similar, but maybe not the same. I used to sleep primarily on my right side. Once while still awake, I felt my shoulder just collapse as I laid there. I asked a PT about that, and was told that generally, a healthy shoulder would not collapse to the extent of injury occurring so if that happened, it may have meant my shoulder was compromised prior to that collapse I felt. The theory for me now is that I either have a virus that has attacked me twice since 2000, or that I have a genetic cause of my Brachial Plexus problems.
Whatever the cause, I have had two attacks. In the first, I lost use of my index finger and thumb of the right hand. That was coming back when I had my second attack in 2006. In that, I had the shoulder collapse and subsequent loss of muscle that holds my right scapula in place. I can move my arm, but the strength is gone, and my scapula is still not there to support my shoulder movement. So, it does come back, but slowly. The conventional thought is that the heavier pain you have and the longer it takes to recover any movement, the less recovery you will have.




> Hi all. I am so glad that there are people out there
> that i can talk to about this. I am 6 weeks into my
> injury. I had too much alcohal to drink one night so
> i ended up falling asleep on my entire left arm for
> aprox 8 hrs and not waking up or moving.

[swhite1]

While in the hospital for my injury another vet approached me and told me he passed out in the back of his pick-up. When he woke up the next day he was just as bad off as you. He told me it took him about 18 to 24 months to almost fully recover. He still has limitations but not so bad. He can still get up on two wheels. I sometimes daydream about riding a motorcycle again. I still pay the extra to carry my license in hopes...
best of luck to you and trust me just about everybody here has suffered the pain you are suffering.
It sucks, straight up no lie.
Hang in there and see what happens. My shoulder got to a point where it no longer stayed in place. Luckily I was in the V.A. and they had me in all sorts of braces. Unfortunately for me I am addicted to wearing a brace. Everyday, all day and wherever I go. I also have had a complete changeover of friends and acquaintances. Old ones couldn't hang, new ones loaded with compassion.
If you get comfortable here you'll find some of our medicine recipes. There is also a private board where you can cuss this injury out like a sailor. We are here for each other. Feel free to contact me if you wish.
One more thing, you are on a clock right now. There is a short window when doctors can attempt repair. I don't know the particulars. I hope someone here will offer up that information up to you quickly enough.
I hope you can get past this all quickly and you don't even get to know any of us. Either way we are always here.
Scott

[Jason454]

Hey guys. Thanks alot for the support. I am really depressed by this injury right now as depression caused this injury in the first place. I can twitch my bicep and tricep right now so i think thats a good thing although i'm not sure it'll make it recover faster. Hey Scott. That guy you talked about..does he still have pain? Did he have surgery and what kind of limitations does he have with his arm? And also what kind of shoulder brace do you use. At PT this week I think they're going to order me one. Is there less pain when you wear the brace? Hopefully you will be back ridin again soon.
Thanks again
Jason

[marieke]

Jason,
Glad that you are getting a brace.. they should have done that BEFORE you subluxed! I can't believe they waited until it had happened, makes it harder for you to function and recover.

Not trying to be a downer, but I know another guy who had this happen, same way as you, and his shoulder subluxed b/c he refused to wear the brace or sling, and he has not recovered much, partially b/c of this. (also he didn't really want to do much in PT, unlike you who is working hard!).

As for pain, have they tried you on any of the typical meds for nerve pain? Neurontin, or Lyrica?

I wish you much luck and further recover! Where are you in Canada? I am in Montreal, Qc, though my injury is from birth, not "traumatic" but "obstetric" (though really, it was a traumatic birth if I was injured!)

Marieke 33, LOBPI

[Humboldtmtnbkr]

Hey Jason, I am 4 months post accident. I had a high speed bicycle crash, broke my collarbone and suffered a tbpi. My arm started out limp except my hand/wrist. I am slowly recovering. My shoulder(several muscles), bicep, brachioradiallis(sp?), are the most affected. They are slowly coming back. At first I couldn't make my bicep move at all, about 3 weeks post I could sort of flex it. Now I am so close to being able to do a curl(weightless). I was extremely depressed for about 3 months. If there is something you love to do you must find a way to do it. Mine was getting back on my bike and traing again. It has been a rough road, but you can pull through. I would recommend quit drinking and substitute with some pot if you are into that sort of thing. Don't give up and keep that shoulder moving. I believe you will recover, it is just going to take some serious time, so commit to it. Later and good luck, JJ

[PRISCILLA]

Hi Jason, I did a quick search and found this from a long time ago. You can do a search Saturday Night Palsy in the search forum here, using all categories, date range ALL and it has some other stuff that "might" be of interest to you. Sounds similar or maybe not.

http://ubpn.org/messageboard/thread ... 9972#79972

[swhite1]

Jason, It seems as though you fell off the radar? I hope you received my email w/the answers to your questions and photo?
I'm curious(as I'll bet more of us are...) how your appointment went?
Has the extent of your injury been determined?
What's your prognosis?
Keep in touch please?
Scott

[RobertRacer]

Jason, on the upside, I think burning or electrical/ lightning in the arm is better than dull pain. I think its a better sign for recovery.