possible brachial plexus injury
possible brachial plexus injury
Hi all. Just stumbled on your sight today. I have an eight year old son who broke his right elbow 8 weeks ago. Since that time he has been in extreme pain. He had a nerve conduction study done two weeks ago which showed possible nerve entrapment (severe hypothetic condition) in both the medial and ulnar nerve. Now the orthopedic surgeon is sending us for a needle emg/ncv as he is suspecting a brachial plexus injury. The ortho says you don't see both the ulnar and medial nerve involved in an elbow break. My son does have some use of his arm. Pain seems to be primarily in forearm and elbow, but he does complain of pain whenever he attempts to move his hand or fingers. My primary question is what type of medicines are effective for nerve pain in children. He is currently on tylenol with codeine and it really doesnt help at all. If you have any other advise or thoughts as to additional tests he should have or what type of doctor should be treating this injury it would be greatly appreciated. Need to get him some help because this situation does not seem to be improving.
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Karen Hillyer
- Posts: 562
- Joined: Fri Sep 06, 2002 1:36 pm
Re: possible brachial plexus injury
Hi there, I really just wanted to post to offer my support, my own son aged 11 yrs has an obstetrical injury and rarely suffers from pain, so I can't help on that score at all, but I am sure that someone will post who can be of more use to you.
You might want to consider an consultation with a brachial plexus specialist in addition to your orthopaedic specialist too. You could check this siteunder the medical resources bit, there are many surgeons who have completed questionnaires about thei areas of expertise and you may find some help in that section too.
Good luck
Karen
You might want to consider an consultation with a brachial plexus specialist in addition to your orthopaedic specialist too. You could check this siteunder the medical resources bit, there are many surgeons who have completed questionnaires about thei areas of expertise and you may find some help in that section too.
Good luck
Karen
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admin
- Site Admin
- Posts: 19873
- Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2009 9:59 pm
Re: possible brachial plexus injury
Karen, thanks for your support. I have an appointment on Monday with the Brachial Injury Group at Texas Children's. That's assuming that I get approval from my insurance company which is unlikely since Texas Children's is out of network, and my pediatrition has not even submitted the request for authorization. Think it's time to get a new pediatrition. I am totally exasperated. The doctor is great but the administrative staff acts like this is no big deal, and they will "get to it when they have a chance. Thanks for listening all.
Any other recommendations would be appreciated especially as to what can be used for pain control. He couldn't make it all day at school today and has been moaning and crying all afternoon. It breaks my heart.
Thanks all
Any other recommendations would be appreciated especially as to what can be used for pain control. He couldn't make it all day at school today and has been moaning and crying all afternoon. It breaks my heart.
Thanks all
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jennyb
- Posts: 1183
- Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2001 5:24 pm
- Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: January 1980 Yamaha RD200 vs 16 wheeler truck, result, 1 totally paralysed right arm. I was 21, now 54. I had no surgery, I don't regret this. Decided to totally ignore limitations (easily done aged 21) adapted very quickly to one handed life, got married, had 3 kids, worked- the effect of the injury on my life (once the pain stopped being constant) was minimal and now, aged 54, I very rarely even think of it, unless I bash it or it gets cold, then I wish I'd had it amputated :) Except for a steering knob on my car, I have no adaptations to help with life, mainly because I honestly don't think of myself as disabled and the only thing I can't do is peel potatoes, which is definitely a good thing.
Re: possible brachial plexus injury
good idea to get him checked out, are there no bpi clinics nearer you? Broken elbow is extremely painful I'm told but it does sound as if your son is suffering a lot and you never know what's going on until someone who knows whats what has a look. Good luck and let us know what happens :0)
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jennyb
- Posts: 1183
- Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2001 5:24 pm
- Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: January 1980 Yamaha RD200 vs 16 wheeler truck, result, 1 totally paralysed right arm. I was 21, now 54. I had no surgery, I don't regret this. Decided to totally ignore limitations (easily done aged 21) adapted very quickly to one handed life, got married, had 3 kids, worked- the effect of the injury on my life (once the pain stopped being constant) was minimal and now, aged 54, I very rarely even think of it, unless I bash it or it gets cold, then I wish I'd had it amputated :) Except for a steering knob on my car, I have no adaptations to help with life, mainly because I honestly don't think of myself as disabled and the only thing I can't do is peel potatoes, which is definitely a good thing.
Re: possible brachial plexus injury
....here's a list of clinics in the states, there are others too. http://ubpn.org/medicalresources/us-bpi.html Hope this helps :0)