I live in Nova Scotia Canada, I have yet to hear anything about getting surgery from my doctors. I really don't know what to do. I can't even get a hold of him I call and call but its getting pointless. Its been 6 months and from what I have read 6 months is too late, I am getting down because it feels like there was nothing I could do. I geuss I didn't try hard enough. Is there really a 6 months best period.
Thanks Chris
Surgery
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admin
- Site Admin
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Re: Surgery
hey chris, i was 6 months out too. its ok! but dont wait too long ok? email me anytime.
Re: Surgery
Hi Chris,
My understanding is that doctors generally like to wait ~3 months to see if the nerves start working again on their own. If that doesn't happen, then the goal becomes getting the muscles innervated before they start to atrophy - which will happen if they're not getting any kind of workout.
This is where electrical stimulation (e-stim) comes in. I think most doctors support it by now - the Mayo Clinic certainly does. E-stim is a small, battery powered unit that sends a charge (varying degrees based on your control) to the target muscle, causing it to contract as if a nerve had sent the signal. This helps keep the muscle going until nerves (repaired or transferred) can grow out to it. Since nerves only grow ~1"/month, this can sometimes take awhile (for John, the contralateral C7 from his good arm took the longest, almost 2 years).
And... if the timeframe is longer & bpi muscles wouldn't be functional, several bpi clinics offer muscle/tendon transfers.
Hope this helps!
Ellen
My understanding is that doctors generally like to wait ~3 months to see if the nerves start working again on their own. If that doesn't happen, then the goal becomes getting the muscles innervated before they start to atrophy - which will happen if they're not getting any kind of workout.
This is where electrical stimulation (e-stim) comes in. I think most doctors support it by now - the Mayo Clinic certainly does. E-stim is a small, battery powered unit that sends a charge (varying degrees based on your control) to the target muscle, causing it to contract as if a nerve had sent the signal. This helps keep the muscle going until nerves (repaired or transferred) can grow out to it. Since nerves only grow ~1"/month, this can sometimes take awhile (for John, the contralateral C7 from his good arm took the longest, almost 2 years).
And... if the timeframe is longer & bpi muscles wouldn't be functional, several bpi clinics offer muscle/tendon transfers.
Hope this helps!
Ellen
Re: Surgery
my arm is starting to atrophy i think, can you explain what that really means. The muscle stimulators those are at a rehabilitation center or something. My muscles look like they are gone allready. Thanks sooooooo much for replying i really need feedback
Chris
take care
Chris
take care
Re: Surgery
Your posts are making me wonder if your doctor is a bpi specialist (adult onset). If not, you really need to link up with one. The following website lists 3 bpi specialists in Canada - are any of them near you? I assume you'd need a referral - how hard will that be for you to get?
http://ubpn.org/medicalresources/canada-bpi.html
I expect there are more sophisticated muscle stimulators at a facility & it'd be great if you can go there as often as possible. But John also had a small one at home so he could do it every day.
Atrophy is when the muscle begins to get smaller. I think I've been told it can take up to a year for a muscle to completely go.
Hope this helps - keep us posted.
Take care,
Ellen
http://ubpn.org/medicalresources/canada-bpi.html
I expect there are more sophisticated muscle stimulators at a facility & it'd be great if you can go there as often as possible. But John also had a small one at home so he could do it every day.
Atrophy is when the muscle begins to get smaller. I think I've been told it can take up to a year for a muscle to completely go.
Hope this helps - keep us posted.
Take care,
Ellen
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cbe411
- Posts: 1393
- Joined: Sun Jun 01, 2003 8:27 pm
- Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: MVA in 2001, nerve graph in 2002, Median Nerve Transfer in 2004 and an unsuccessful Gracillis Muscle Transfer in 2006. I am living life and loving it! Feel free to contact me :)
- Location: Grosse Pointe Woods, MI
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Re: Surgery
Hey Chris.... (Thanks for the mail Jamie!)
I did not have my first surgery until 9 months after my accident! Then I had my second surgery 21 months after that with a different surgeon! I understand that you are nervous..... I was worried about time, I am sure had I had surgery sooner I Might have better function now BUT there is no WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN for me! I did the best I knew how at the time and that is all that any of us can really do! Check that link that Ellen put about the medical resources, see about seeing a different doctor. I know things are different in NS than in the states but see about getting a new doctor or a second opinion or something. I have complete use of my hand slight triceps and very very slight biceps (C5 & 6 avulsed, C7 & 8 ruptured and T1 stretched). I am looking at probably one or two more surgeeries yet! YEAH!! DOnt lose hope!!! Keep moving your arm, ROM stuff, that will help with the atrophie too, it did with me. If there is ANYTHING Else that I can help you with please mail me!!!!!!!
COurt xx
I did not have my first surgery until 9 months after my accident! Then I had my second surgery 21 months after that with a different surgeon! I understand that you are nervous..... I was worried about time, I am sure had I had surgery sooner I Might have better function now BUT there is no WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN for me! I did the best I knew how at the time and that is all that any of us can really do! Check that link that Ellen put about the medical resources, see about seeing a different doctor. I know things are different in NS than in the states but see about getting a new doctor or a second opinion or something. I have complete use of my hand slight triceps and very very slight biceps (C5 & 6 avulsed, C7 & 8 ruptured and T1 stretched). I am looking at probably one or two more surgeeries yet! YEAH!! DOnt lose hope!!! Keep moving your arm, ROM stuff, that will help with the atrophie too, it did with me. If there is ANYTHING Else that I can help you with please mail me!!!!!!!
COurt xx
Re: Surgery
Hi ellen
Thank you so much for the help. What I didn't have was a BPI specialist, I don't think there is one Nova Scotia. I am now trying to contact the doctors in the resource page, so i can get somebody who can help me out.
Chris
Thank you so much for the help. What I didn't have was a BPI specialist, I don't think there is one Nova Scotia. I am now trying to contact the doctors in the resource page, so i can get somebody who can help me out.
Chris
Re: Surgery
Chris, I'm so glad you're pursuing getting in touch with a specialist. It should make a huge difference.
Please keep us posted.
Ellen
Please keep us posted.
Ellen
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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: Surgery
Hi Chris
Here is a link to the doctors listed in this site's medical resources page for Canada http://ubpn.org/medicalresources/canada-bpi.html .I know the guy in London, Ontario, has experience with trauma injured adults, not sure about the others.
Let us know what happens :0)
Jen NZ
Here is a link to the doctors listed in this site's medical resources page for Canada http://ubpn.org/medicalresources/canada-bpi.html .I know the guy in London, Ontario, has experience with trauma injured adults, not sure about the others.
Let us know what happens :0)
Jen NZ