Temp change in affected arm

Forum for parents of injured who are seeking information from other parents or people living with the injury. All welcome
DPerry
Posts: 2
Joined: Sat Feb 21, 2009 8:31 pm

Temp change in affected arm

Post by DPerry »

My daughter is 13 and has a LOBPI. When she is well the left arm and hand are warmer than her right. Anything time she is sick and runs a fever, her left arm starts hurting. That is usually how I know she is running a fever. Well, she is sick with a sinus infection and bad cough. Fever started today. Left arm pain also started. But for the first time her left arm and hand are ice cold. Does anyone have any suggestions or similar situation that can help us? She is using a heating pad to deal with the aches and pains. But I wonder why her arm is so cold.
User avatar
veggiebug
Posts: 257
Joined: Wed Mar 03, 2004 8:47 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: I weighed 11 lbs. 4 oz. when I was born.
I was delivered by forceps which resulted in my ROBPI.
I've never had any surgical intervention.
Location: Williamsport PA

Re: Temp change in affected arm

Post by veggiebug »

As I sit here with my semi-sleeve on one arm I have to agree I feel cold A LOT more in my affected arm. Lately at night when it's just a little chilly I've been using my husband's old sleeve-like thing they gave him for his knee after surgery. It helps so much that I'm going to start recyling old socks or looking for leg warmer like things for my arm. When I shower I have to run my arm under the hot water for a couple minutes until it's warm enough for me to turn that side away from the warmth of the hot water.

Never noticed when I'm sick if it gets cold more, but I wouldn't be suprised. I tend to wrap that side in covers a lot more sick or not.

Pain I don't experience as much, but I do know that when my arm is cold I tend to tighten up a lot and kind of curl it up close to me in an akward manner...like my hand curls under and I tighten my upper arm closer to me.

-Traci
User avatar
F-Litz
Posts: 970
Joined: Fri May 26, 2006 6:53 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: LOBPI, LTBPI at age 6.5, Sensory Issues, CP, Diaphragm Weakness, Aspberger's
Location: Ambler, PA

Re: Temp change in affected arm

Post by F-Litz »

I always assumed that Maia's arm was always cold due to decreased circulation. When we used TES (the nighttime e-stim that was done to increase circulation) regularly - her arm was always warm. So we made it a point to do it during the winter months rather than summer.

How about arm warmers? (like leg warmers but for arms) or actually you could use leg warmers... they have some really pretty ones.
claudia
Posts: 1241
Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2001 12:21 pm

Re: Temp change in affected arm

Post by claudia »

Francine:
I just got arm warmers for Julie!!!!!

Hers are black with some design on them. Because they are made for women (not kids) they are a little long, but she doesn't mind.

Search under "arm warmers". Or search for sites that cater to runners. They are a product that women who run distance would wear. Ours were not too pricey: $20 for two.

Juliana usually feels cold in her affected arm. Her affected hand is always clammy. She sort of wraps her arm up in her blankets as she sleeps.

claudia


Message was edited by: claudia
Carolyn J
Posts: 3424
Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2004 1:22 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: LOBPI. I am 77 yrs old and never had a name for my injuries until 2004 when I found UBPN at age 66.

My injuries are: LOBPI on upper body and Cerebrael Palsy on the lower left extremities. The only intervention I've had is a tendon transplant from my left leg to my left foot to enable flexing t age 24 in 1962. Before that, my foot would freeze without notice on the side when wearing heels AND I always did wear them at work "to fit in" I also stuttered until around age 18-19...just outgrew it...no therapy for it. Also suffered from very very low self esteem; severe Depression and Anxiety attacks started at menopause. I stuffed emotions and over-compensated in every thing I did to "fit in" and be "invisible". My injuries were Never addressed or talked about until age 66. I am a late bloomer!!!!!

I welcome any and all questions about "My Journey".
There is NO SUCH THING AS A DUMB QUESTION.
Sharing helps to Heal. HUGS do too.
Location: Tacoma WA
Contact:

Re: Temp change in affected arm

Post by Carolyn J »

YES, it is common for "BPI-ers" to have super sensitivity to the weather, especially cold. Many of us adults have share on this topic on the Adults with OBPI Forum/Message Board.

BTW,everyone is welcome on al of the public Message/Forum Boards. Just type a word or subject in the "Search Forum' Box at the top of the page and al posts wil come up for you.

Hugs all around our UBPN Family,
Carolyn J
LOBPI/adult age 70
Carolyn J
Adult LOBPI
Mare
Posts: 708
Joined: Mon Mar 10, 2003 5:30 pm

Re: Temp change in affected arm

Post by Mare »

I have a parafin wax machine pluged in the kitchen frankie uses it to warm his hand and arm and to help with aches and pains we bought it at walmart for 20 bucks it only fits a little past his wrist so he uses a soup ladle to pour it over his elbow he says it feels really and takes the pain right away. hope this helps
Mare
Carolyn J
Posts: 3424
Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2004 1:22 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: LOBPI. I am 77 yrs old and never had a name for my injuries until 2004 when I found UBPN at age 66.

My injuries are: LOBPI on upper body and Cerebrael Palsy on the lower left extremities. The only intervention I've had is a tendon transplant from my left leg to my left foot to enable flexing t age 24 in 1962. Before that, my foot would freeze without notice on the side when wearing heels AND I always did wear them at work "to fit in" I also stuttered until around age 18-19...just outgrew it...no therapy for it. Also suffered from very very low self esteem; severe Depression and Anxiety attacks started at menopause. I stuffed emotions and over-compensated in every thing I did to "fit in" and be "invisible". My injuries were Never addressed or talked about until age 66. I am a late bloomer!!!!!

I welcome any and all questions about "My Journey".
There is NO SUCH THING AS A DUMB QUESTION.
Sharing helps to Heal. HUGS do too.
Location: Tacoma WA
Contact:

Re: Temp change in affected arm

Post by Carolyn J »

I tried the parafin wax one cold day at the Fitness center I go to; the trainer used it for his stroke Rehab members It worked very well on my LOBP{I hand & I liked the feeling of the hot parafin. :)
HUGS,
Carolyn J
LOBPI/70
Carolyn J
Adult LOBPI
User avatar
veggiebug
Posts: 257
Joined: Wed Mar 03, 2004 8:47 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: I weighed 11 lbs. 4 oz. when I was born.
I was delivered by forceps which resulted in my ROBPI.
I've never had any surgical intervention.
Location: Williamsport PA

Re: Temp change in affected arm

Post by veggiebug »

ooooooohhhhhh, I can get one for home really? I went to PT and I told them I wanted one for home. It felt so good!

Also thanks for the arm warmer idea, I figured they had something like that, I'm excited to go get some. See, just another time I didn't realize it was common BP problem. I wrapm my arm in a blanket as well.

-Traci
Kath
Posts: 3242
Joined: Mon Nov 18, 2002 4:11 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: I am ROBPI, global injury, Horner's Syndrome. No surgery but PT started at 2 weeks old under the direction of New York Hospital. I wore a brace 24/7 for the first 11 months of my life. I've never let my injury be used as an excuse not to do something. I've approach all things, in life, as a challenge. I approach anything new wondering if I can do it. I tried so many things I might never have tried, if I were not obpi. Being OBPI has made me strong, creative, more determined and persistent. I believe that being obpi has given me a very strong sense of humor and compassion for others.
Location: New York

Re: Temp change in affected arm

Post by Kath »

My arm and hand are always cold. I type and my hand is still freezing. It's so annoying and sometimes painful. When I was in PT they tried to put and ice pack on my right shoulder and I ended up almost in tears. Traci I do the same thing in the shower...

I had a major problem testing my kids bottles because I tested them on my right forearm and did not realize I can't feel heat there... I sleep with and extra soft blanket just for my right arm. I watch TV with a wrap on my right arm and sometimes I put something just over my right arm when at the computer.

My right leg is also much colder than my right and I have not fully figured that out. One BPI doctor said that when the spinal cord is damages as in avulsion it natural that the entire side of the body is damaged.

I hate winter! I love anything fleece next to my arm because it's soft and keeps it warm.

Kath robpi/adult
Kath robpi/adult

Kathleen Mallozzi
Minnesotamom
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Mar 11, 2009 8:00 pm

Re: Temp change in affected arm

Post by Minnesotamom »

Hi. My son Josh who is 13 has temperature and color changes in his arm when it is hot or cold. He has not complained of pain and I have not noticed if there is a temperature change with a fever. Several years back I took him to a specialist to check on his circulation. At the time he was experiencing significant color changes to his affected arm. This was following arm surgery when he was three. We learned that his circulation is just fine. We were told that the temperature and color changes are a result of his arm being confused when the fight or flight system or parasympathetic nervous system was in use. Basically, when his body works to regulate its temperature the nerves of his affected arm have trouble reading the messages and responding correctly.

At age 13 now I just see the arm turn some red or maybe slight purplish but not the shocking darker colors that we used to see. I notice the color change from being outside in the summer or winter and from when he's running around inside getting overheated from playing.
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