Hi new member

Treatments, Rehabilitation, and Recovery
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pieface
Posts: 21
Joined: Tue Dec 08, 2009 1:44 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: Full root avulsion of C5,C6,C7,C8,T1 September 2009.
Surgery October 2009.
Donor nerve taken from fore arm, sliced into 3 pieces.
Used for C5, C6 , C7 to re implanted back into the spine and attached
to brachial.
Location: Ireland

Hi new member

Post by pieface »

Hey guys

I had a bad accident during a motorcycle race in September 2009,which resulted in complete avulsion of C5-C6-C7-C8-T1,dis-located shoulder,fractured arm,wrist and two bones in the hand,i had surgery the following month.
For the surgery they took a nerve out of the bad arm and cutt it into 3(incision from elbow to wrist),they then implanted the nerves into the spine to reconnect C5-C6-C7. The type of surgery i had is been developed by the hospital i had the surgery at so i dont think it would be common.

At the moment i some shoulder movement,i can tense the muscle in the upper arm and also tiny bits of movement.
Pain wise,its quiet bad,24/7,im on the neurontin,im taking 2-3 300mg tabs 3 times a day,but i dont find them that great as pain is always bad,ive also tried taking amitriptyline which makes me tierd and sends me off to sleep :) .

So hopefully i can keep people up to date on how im getting on as i have been reading through alot of the posts the last couple of weeks.

cheers

LF
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MW
Posts: 81
Joined: Fri Jun 19, 2009 6:13 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: LTBPI, Feb 2009, hit by truck while on a run. Free muscle transfer at Mayo Clinic 6 months later.
Location: Chicago, IL

Re: Hi new member

Post by MW »

Hi LF,

I'm glad you found this community; I'm very happy I did after getting hurt in Feb 09.

Question for you-- your surgeons were able to reconnect nerves avulsed from the spine? What hospital were you trated? I have been under the impression that if avulsed, there are few recovery options.

As for pain, I'm on amitriptyline and neurontin as well, except that I'm on 800mg 4-5x a day at the direction of my pain specialist. For me, upping the neurontin dosage really helped a lot.

Best,
Mike
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pieface
Posts: 21
Joined: Tue Dec 08, 2009 1:44 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: Full root avulsion of C5,C6,C7,C8,T1 September 2009.
Surgery October 2009.
Donor nerve taken from fore arm, sliced into 3 pieces.
Used for C5, C6 , C7 to re implanted back into the spine and attached
to brachial.
Location: Ireland

Re: Hi new member

Post by pieface »

Hi mike

I live in Ireland and I had my surgery done in London in queens national hospital for neurology and neuroscience,from my understanding of the operation they drilled holes into the spine and implanted the dinar nerves in,they have only done this type of operation 20 times they said and are developing it as they go along.

What is generally the method of operation when all nerves are avulsed?

I will be sure to keep up to date on recovery.

Cheers
LF
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Master DIVER TOM
Posts: 759
Joined: Tue May 05, 2009 11:51 am

Re: Hi new member

Post by Master DIVER TOM »

Hi , Sorry to here of your hard landing accident.

So heres some tips for you, Try using arm rest ,pillows when you can
This will keep pressure and pain off the shoulder some ;) Driving semi with erbs this help big time to cushion the arm and shoulder. ;)
I like what you explain a bout your treatments ;) But Man , I really did not understand what you said about your treatments,Its Great for sure. :) But I was born in the 50s with erbs, Treatment changed for Sure and Words have to. IF you had to have a BPI issue today it is far better than in the 50s . Stay strong ;) ;) ;) :D

Best wishes and trys,and :idea: :idea:

Tom
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Master DIVER TOM
Posts: 759
Joined: Tue May 05, 2009 11:51 am

Re: Hi new member

Post by Master DIVER TOM »

Hi , Sorry to here of your hard landing accident.

So heres some tips for you, Try using arm rest ,pillows when you can
This will keep pressure and pain off the shoulder some ;) Driving semi with erbs this help big time to cushion the arm and shoulder. ;)
I like what you explain a bout your treatments ;) But Man , I really did not understand what you said about your treatments,Its Great for sure. :) But I was born in the 50s with erbs, Treatment changed for Sure and Words have to. IF you had to have a BPI issue today it is far better than in the 50s . Stay strong ;) ;) ;) :D

Best wishes and trys,and :idea: :idea:

Tom
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MW
Posts: 81
Joined: Fri Jun 19, 2009 6:13 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: LTBPI, Feb 2009, hit by truck while on a run. Free muscle transfer at Mayo Clinic 6 months later.
Location: Chicago, IL

Re: Hi new member

Post by MW »

Hi LF,

With a root avulsion like mine the team at the Mayo Clinic did a muscle transfer and graft to nerves that remained intact. So for me, I have shoulder movement but no bicep, tricep, forearm, hand, nor wrist. What they did was transfer a muscle from my leg to where my biceps used to be (it was completely destroyed in my accident), then attached the muscle to a nerve in my shoulder. That was 6 months ago, and when I shrug my shoulders, that transferred muscle twitches a bit. The goal is to give me elbow flexion someday.

Your treatment sounds pretty aggressive; I'd like to hear how you're doing.

Mike
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User avatar
RobertRacer
Posts: 137
Joined: Tue Sep 30, 2008 4:54 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: 9/23/07 - LTBPI / Motorcycle collision
Location: Birmingham, AL

Re: Hi new member

Post by RobertRacer »

Hi LF,
Welcome! Wow, that surgery is pretty unique. I too have always been under the impression that if the roots were avulsed that there was no surgical option. Medical techniques change daily though. Definately keep us up to date on your recovery as that sounds really cool. Mine weren't avulsed but I have not totally recovered either. I do Lyrica, but only 600mg daily....perhaps I should consider asking about upping the dosage. The pillow under the arm, and armrests really do help, they take a little pressure off the shoulder.

Tom, you weren't kidding huh? You really do love those smileys!
Robert - LTBPI/34/AL - Yamaha meets Ford Expedition....not good.
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Master DIVER TOM
Posts: 759
Joined: Tue May 05, 2009 11:51 am

Re: Hi new member

Post by Master DIVER TOM »

Hi Rob a :D is way better than a :| any time, Tom ;)
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User avatar
RobertRacer
Posts: 137
Joined: Tue Sep 30, 2008 4:54 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: 9/23/07 - LTBPI / Motorcycle collision
Location: Birmingham, AL

Re: Hi new member

Post by RobertRacer »

Yeah but the quantity of them from you is hilarious! ;)
Robert - LTBPI/34/AL - Yamaha meets Ford Expedition....not good.
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User avatar
hilltopfwb
Posts: 82
Joined: Fri Dec 11, 2009 11:50 am
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: May 24, 2008 an 88 year old lady did not see me and pulled out while I was riding my 06 HD Street Glide. The accident resulted in 9 broken bones and brain hemorrhaging. The accident's most serious results was two avulsions confirmed in my C6 & C7 vertebrae. In Oct of 08 Dr. Li of Wake Forest University performed nerve transfer lasting around 8 hours in surgery. I have limited use now of my left arm. It took until July of 09 before it moved at all, and now is moving limited. I experience burning pain in my left hand, staying busy helps keep the mind off of burning. I visited the Mayo Clinic May, 2010 and consulted with their brachial plexus team. May 1, 2012, I underwent a muscle transfer at Wake Forest University. This surgery was deemed a success and I have more movement in my arm.
Location: Fuquay Varina NC 27526
Contact:
Contact hilltopfwb

Re: Hi new member

Post by hilltopfwb »

My accident is very similar to yours....I was under the impression if the nerves were avulsed - you had no option...it is great to hear this news. Please keep us posted on your progress.
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