Is this true?

Forum for parents of injured who are seeking information from other parents or people living with the injury. All welcome
Aliviasmommy
Posts: 6
Joined: Mon Jul 06, 2009 7:50 pm

Is this true?

Post by Aliviasmommy »

That the bp arm can get sunburned more easier then the non bp arm.

and also is it okay to get shots taken in the affected arm...because the one post says about a medical bracelet being on when in the hospital/? Thanks for all that reply!!!
Mare
Posts: 708
Joined: Mon Mar 10, 2003 5:30 pm

Re: Is this true?

Post by Mare »

Frankie is now 16 and from my experience over the yrs yes his bpi arm does burn faster and worse even with sun screen so I used to buy him the wet suit shirts plus anywhere there are surgery scars must be protected Dr Nath says sunburn there has an increase of skin cancer.
We also never let shots or blood drawn in the bpi arm Frankies bpi is the worst and he has poor circulation so the shot would just coagulate in that arm.
Mare
katep
Posts: 1240
Joined: Mon Mar 29, 2004 3:20 pm

Re: Is this true?

Post by katep »

Yes, it's true. BPI can affect the sympathetic nervous system, so things like inflammation, circulation, edema, etc can all be different in the affected arm. So reaction to the sun can be very different from one side to the other, either a much bigger reaction than the other arm, one that shows up more slowly, etc.

We don't allow shots into Joshua's left arm. His deltoid was really impacted by his injury with reduced mass, and that is the muscle they would put the shots in. Besides the lower circulation and possible higher pain because of that, I just don't want to do anything to threaten that arm which is already weakened by this injury.

Kate
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: Is this true?

Post by Carolyn J »

Yes,Take extra care lifelong.
Carolyn J
LOBPI adult
Carolyn J
Adult LOBPI
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brandonsmom
Posts: 1401
Joined: Mon Nov 22, 2004 4:43 pm

Re: Is this true?

Post by brandonsmom »

Yes, too true, my son's arm (AFFECTED) sunburns about 3 times as fast, in other words, if he would burn in 30 minutes his arm right arms gets sunburnt in 10 minutes !!!!!!
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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: Is this true?

Post by F-Litz »

Maia got 2nd degree burns, mostly on her bpi side, last year from an hour on the beach on a completely foggy day.

Her whole left (bpi) arm was burned, as was her face. The righ arm (non bpi) had much less burn. Now we have to use COTZ (major) sunscreen and she wears SPF clothing and hats, etc.

Be very careful. It was a very scary time especially when the burn started to get infected.

Maia has very sensitive skin (allegies & eczema) and does better with titanium and zinc sunscreen.
MB15
Posts: 40
Joined: Wed Dec 05, 2007 6:43 am

Re: Is this true?

Post by MB15 »

I just found out that my BPI arm gets sunburned MUCH faster than my good arm. I live in NH and after a very rainy June the sun finally arrived just in time for July 4th...which we spent at my brother's pool. My BPI arm got so burned it blistered and then scabbed. OUCH!

MB
swimhappy
Posts: 30
Joined: Mon Aug 18, 2008 12:57 am

Re: Is this true?

Post by swimhappy »

My right (bp) arm doesn't burn faster or worse than my other arm that I've noticed, but that's probably because I am able to put tons of sunscreen on it and I reapply often. With my left arm, however, I have to find someone else to put sunscreen on it so I apply left often. That's just me, though. Because of my fair skin, I'm used to having to use lots of sunscreen so it's something I'm just sensitive/aware about.

I never get shots or blood drawn in my bp arm. The circulation is far too poor.
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: Is this true?

Post by Kath »

Hi
I have already had a skin cancer in my robpi arm. I was shocked for several reasons.
a) I am a redhead so was never allowed to play in the sun.. and when on a beach I had long sleeves on at all times.

b) it was on the inside near my elbow and because I have a pronated hand/arm that side of my arm has never seen the sun. My skin is as white as this page except for the scar I have where they removed the Squamous cell cancer.

I have always worn sun screen and it's been water-babies. I have had two more bouts of skin cancer since the first one last year and one was on my right leg... also thinner and poor circulation due to bpi...

I can't feel my arm if it gets burned on the top of my forearm because I can't feel any heat there.

I am 69 and was NEVER allowed to have a shot or bpi taken on that side per the orders of my family doctor. I guess he was a man way ahead of the times.

When I had the lesion removed I was in pain for months and it's still sore to the touch. Yet on my leg i had Mohs surgery and it was not painful. It is best to protect the bpi arm from insult of any kind.

I have my arm banded for no bp or iv stick when in the hospital but they don't always get that it is partially paralyzed. I have to explain the length difference and the fact that I look almost normal but cannot use it to drink, eat or even take off my eyeglasses... They just don't get it!

I had a stent put into my right CA and they could not get a pulse in my right leg at first without a doppler and then told me it was weaker and in the wrong place...LOL.

There are many little things that people and doctors do not realize when treating obpi/children and adults.

I almost forgot... I have Horner's syndrome and the right side of my face burns easy and I don't really feel it until it's too late. I was sunblock 55 under my makeup that has sunblock in it... I wear sunblock winter and summer.

Kath robpi/adult
Kath robpi/adult

Kathleen Mallozzi
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LJSL0330
Posts: 52
Joined: Wed Feb 27, 2008 9:09 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: LOBPI. Only surgical intervention was muscle lengthening at 2-3 y/o. PT at 35 which increased passive ROM by did not improve active ROM. Also have scoliosis due to left shoulder "hiking."
Location: Evansville, Indiana

Re: Is this true?

Post by LJSL0330 »

I have never noticed a difference in how quickly my OBPI arm sunburns compared to my unaffected arm.

As far as shots, my mother NEVER let doctors give me shots in my OBPI arm when I was a kid because she was afraid it would damage it more. She also wouldn't let them give me shots in my other arm. She was afraid it would be damaged and then I'd have no "good" arm. You have to remember that these were the "dark ages" of the 60s and 70s and my mom barely even understood what had happened to me! But, knowing what I know now about the circulation issues, etc, I'm glad she tried to protect that arm when she could.

However, every single dang shot I got (until I was about 15 and said "NO MORE!") was in what our GP's nurse always called the "hip." She was trying to fool me but I KNEW she meant my BUTT! I HATED shots even more than other kids!

Lisa, 41
LOBPI
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