Erb's --not knowing what it is

This board is for adults and teens to discuss issues relating to BPI since birth (OBPI).
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patpxc
Posts: 315
Joined: Sat Nov 03, 2001 1:06 am
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: C-5 and C-6. Unable to supinate. Contracture elbow. Wrist bone underdeveloped.
Can raise forearm to mouth level. shoulder is limited in movement. Unable to put arm behind back. Secondary- early arthritis, carpal tunnel, pronator syndrome,scoliosis
Location: Ohio

Erb's --not knowing what it is

Post by patpxc »

I've been teaching computer stuff in nursing homes and today I ran into a middleaged man who worked there that had obvious Erb's . I asked him about it and he said he was born with it. He didn't know what it was called--doesn't have a computer,and just said, I don't let it bother me. I just do what I have to do. He really had it a lot worse than mer. His waiters tip was pronounces and although he could move his fingers his wrist was frozes in the tip. He could get his arm up to his face, had a bent elbow. His arm was a lot smaller than the other around. He said he didn't notice any overuse--no arthritis. Can you believe that. It was really neat to see someone else who could relate. We spent about 10 minutes showing each other what our arms would do. Thaought I'd share. Pat
Kathleen M

Re: Erb's --not knowing what it is

Post by Kathleen M »

Pat

That is amazing... Its funny how we all thought we were the only ones with this injury...

Comparing arms and movement is quite and experience. I was so amazed the first time I met another adult with Erb's how different our arms were yet it is the same injury...

No over use how did he manage that??? and working in a nursing home with lots of hard work.

I think lots of people don't what its called or exactly how they were injured...

Thanks for sharing
Kath
njbirk
Posts: 1806
Joined: Wed Oct 24, 2001 10:09 pm

Re: Erb's --not knowing what it is

Post by njbirk »

Great story Pat.
We are everywhere, huh?

Nancy
MorbidSolutions
Posts: 6
Joined: Sun Jan 12, 2003 6:30 am

Re: Erb's --not knowing what it is

Post by MorbidSolutions »

Cool, I'm glad to know that there are other people out there with erbs. Before I found ubpn I thought I was all alone out there. Thank you for sharing!

K.
admin
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Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2009 9:59 pm

Re: Erb's --not knowing what it is

Post by admin »

Pat...............

Very Interesting?? How can he NOT have overuse problems as so many of us do??? I wonder if he's done something that I/we haven't tried?? Would be curious to find out. Seems funny that when most people meet for the first time they concentrate on eyes or (butts haha), but not us old timers :) We want to do the old share and compare thing hahaha

Thanks for sharing your experience. I also remember the first obpi that I met. I (honestly) felt a little jealous as she had better mobility than I :( then I instantly got over that and we spent many a long lunch sharing and comparing :) :) Now I cherish each new bpi person I meet, as it's another person I can totally relate to and with :)

Tina
User avatar
patpxc
Posts: 315
Joined: Sat Nov 03, 2001 1:06 am
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: C-5 and C-6. Unable to supinate. Contracture elbow. Wrist bone underdeveloped.
Can raise forearm to mouth level. shoulder is limited in movement. Unable to put arm behind back. Secondary- early arthritis, carpal tunnel, pronator syndrome,scoliosis
Location: Ohio

Re: Erb's --not knowing what it is

Post by patpxc »

Tina,
He was so much worse than me, I just thank God I've got the movement that I have . His Erb's arm was so much skinnier than the other one--his wrist froxen into that waiters tip. You know, I looked at his knuckles on his hands--those fingers on the good hand were just as straight as can be. He sure did have a good attitude.
Yesterday, I was training one of the staff on the computer and she asked me if something was the matter with my arm. I gave her a brief explanation and we moved on. I really think she thought no more about it. Her asking doesn't bother me-- I guess it's the fact that I kid myself into thinking nobody will notice--both arms look the same. Guess they don't. Pat
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