United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

My son appears to have a bp injury. He has feeling in the arm and hand. No extreme pain here, just sometimes says it feels like it is waking up from sleep. His hand functions fine but no firing in the bicep muscle. This happened on 11/02/05. How long do we keep excercising and hoping before we explore other options. He does say it feels tired in the muscles after we excercise it, is this a good sign? Dr's here said there was no surgery available so I am excited to see this may be an option. He is 18 and was injured in an accident.

there is another surgery that you may want to look at for your son. I'm 32 and had my accident july2005. What the doctors are looking to do is a nerve transplant from my foot to my shoulder and bicep. It's a new procedure, but at this point, I'm going to try.

Definately ask your physician or another specialist in your area.

I had a nerve transfer back in 1988 at mayo clinic. All those dr mentioned before were not there yet. I had a wonderful, eventually the CEO of Mayo Clinic, Dr Wood. He was world known. They took my feeling nerve from my right leg, along the side down to my ankle. It did not work but lucky, Dr Wood said I was a good candidate for a "new surgery" (at the time, I was 3rd one to have it done at Mayo Clinic). I had my Tricep transfered to be my bicep. It worked! Ya! Lots of PT but I can raise my hand to my mouth, bending at the elbow. I am still an active patient at Mayo clinic, I see "the team" of Doctors and another wonderful Dr. in plastic surgery.
Yep, 19 years and 28+ trips.
Kath in Chicago

Actually, when my bp injury happened in 1/87, I went to Mayo and Dr. Wood told me of a new thing, (nerve transplant), but I balked at it in hopes the arm might return to somewhat normal. It was in the infancy stage at that time and probably right before Kath had hers' done. They told me at Mayo they do 20 of these a year and have completed over 100 operations. Dr. Bishop told me he worked with Dr. Wood and has taken over the reins since Dr. Woods retirement.
I highly reccomend people to the Mayo as they have a special team and a special bp clinic and was referred there by local doctors as being some of the best in the country. ~Ray

Wow Kath 28 trips !

May i ask what was your level of injury back in 88' please ?

TIA

Hi~
yes, 28 trips and counting.............my accident was 8/12/87 (the birth date of my 3rd child born 8/12/00) C5,6 and 7 avulsed. Of my 8 surgeries 5 of them were plastic surgery done by Dr Johnson. I need to get back for shoulder fusion (my arm feels like its falling off) and the implant in my arm needs to be replaced. I have already seen Dr Johnson for that but my last visit w/ the "team" we did not discuss the fusion. I'm in Northern Illinois so the trip isn't that bad.
Kath
Look for my interview in the upcoming magazine!! Photo of me and my beautiful family will be attached!!

I had a bp injury with damage to C4 & C6. Originally my whole right side was paralyzed and I was in a coma for 33 days. After regained consciousness, I had to learn to walk, talk, and swallow whole foods all over again. I had almost everything but returned from my crash, but the full mobility of my right arm. I had full wrist movement & grip, but could only raise it waist level. the elbow would not bend at all and is the purpose of the surgery.