United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

No Kath you won't necessarily be wearing a sling at 65.
You should however be wearing one at 40. You don't have to wear it all the time. I have sent a couple people actual photos of me wearing my $21.00 slings. The blue and white one and the black one. Can't post it here but give me your email I'll gladly send you the photos. Mind you, they are not the triathlon type. They are the go to the grocery store, cleaning around the house, everyday common chores and tasks type. I take mine off when I get in bed and put it back on when I get out. More and more I'm training my shoulder to hold my arm in place again. When I was first injured there was no way my arm would stay in place. Now, almost three years later my shoulder is doing well enough I no longer really 'need' my brace. Try it out, try it on. You'll be glad you did.
Scott

Kath, we all have so much in common with this injury yet everyone is everso different. It's interesting. I began to have what you are describing almost immediately and it hasn't changed. It's been 5 months now. Mine too hangs obviously subluxed and dislocated with the round ball protruding forward. It is more painful when you have to bend over but as Scott and others have replied, the sling will help, even if worn as Scott suggested. Good luck. I've been in so much pain lately and reading how old your injury is just made me want to cry to think that you are still in so much pain after all of these years. I'm a newby with this. Take care, Suzanne Sommer

thank you again everyone for coming forward with your ideas, support and encouragement. I leave tomorrow to MN and Wed I have a MRI 6:30AM, 8::15 is a CT scan, 10:15 x-rays and a 2:20PM appointment Dr Steinman. I want to hear what he says. And Suzanne, you are so complete right about all of us being so differnt but the same with this injury. I have C5, 6 and 7 avulsed from my spine. I have had pain the moment I woke up. I use my arm ALL the time. I had a muscle transfer years ago (21). My tricep became my bicep so I can bend my arm upward and I have full use of my very painful hand. I have 4 children so I need my hand all the time. I think with wearing a sling would limit me SOOOO much. I need to zipper coats, tie shoes, and help kids out of the car all day. I buckle seat belts and I'm picking up toys all day. I think that's why I am so much pain. but I HAVE to take care of my children.
When I return I will let you know what the doctor said.
Thank you all again SOOOOOOOO much. I feel so relieved to have people to talk to.
Kath

Kath, I hope everything went well at the doctors today?

Suzanne mentioned almost being brought to tears reading how long you've been suffering with this plight.
Me too. You almost make me want to cry knowing how much you hurt and how you carry on with your life.

While others around us may claim to know or understand our pain they really don't have a clue.
I wouldn't wish this on an enemy.

The fact that you even had children amazes me to no end. God bless you.

Genevieve has directed me to yet another type of brace that really looks like a nice one.
It even offers an immobilizer.
See http://www.aircast.com/index.asp/fuseac ... at/4/id/94 for close-up and specs.

You are a hero to me now for all you do for yourself and your family.

Scott


Message was edited by: swhite1

Kath,
Here is a link to show the sling that we used to "pull"
Dustin's dislocated/sublexed shoulder back and up so it would be in the normal position. The arm is still free to use. It can also be worn under your clothing to make it less noticable.

http://www.alimed.com/ProductDetail.asp ... id1=&oid2=

thanks for telling me about the sling! Is it painful? My skin is so sensitive and my arm hurts all the time to the touch.
I posted my results of my test and what the doctors advice and recommendation is for my shoulder. I posted it on Shoulder fusion.
I am in such a hard position. I have a three yr old that has had his last 2 years knowing mommy is always in the hospital and I don't want to miss anymore time with him being at home. It goes by so fast. I need a break from doctors and surgery. The doctor said its not going to get worse anytime soon. I mentioned slings and braces and he said nothing will help other than fusion. But everyone here seems happy and better wearing them. Its winter and it was 5 degrees this AM and I'm in HUGE pain.
I think I just need to hang in here (no bun intended there) until I feel I'm ready to go that route. For now I want to live my life.
Thank you everyone for your help and advice and most of all your support.
Kath

No, it wasn't painful. You just slip your arm into the bicept cup area, it's a soft material. Then snug up the velcroe. The three straps of velcroe at the top can be adjusted to gently pull the arm up and back. It worked well for Dustin when he was using it. We could really see the arm move into position as I adjusted the straps. I know you have a lot to think about with the surgery and if you want to go with fussion. Just thought this could help with the pain and falling forward of the shoulder while you try to make your decisions. Wouldn't it be nice if they could tell us the outcomes before the surgery's were done. Dustin had a hard decision with the gracillis transfer and in the end decided to wait. Yup, we are in WI so our weather is much like yours, hope that warming trend is here to stay when it arrives. Good Luck!!
Sue
PS: If you want to try it I can look for Dustin's and send it to you. Oh, I wasan't thinking, they are sized so not sure his would fit properly, but may give you an idea anyway.


Message was edited by: ptrefam

Hello Sue it's been a long time.
Kath I sure hope you try one or the other slings.
You'll be simply amazed I promise.
The sling I use I can leave it draped over my shoulders
when not in use and pop my arm in and out at will.
Nothing is secured on or around my bad arm.
For this reason alone it is not recommended for more active use.
See Daniel Baldrich for that.
No, the one I wear, I throw it over my bad shoulder,
rest my bad elbow in one cup or cradle(which hangs off my bad shoulder)
then position the other cup or cradle(which hangs off my good shoulder)
under my bad hand and secure a velcro strap between the two cups.
That's it. It's really quite simple.
You will wonder why you havn't used one before now...

I dislocated my shoulder when I tripped going through a doorway. I also had a comminuted fracture of the left humeral head. I knew right away something was wrong. I couldn't get up. My arm had to be braced/taped up at the elbow where it stayed for almost two days before it was fixed through a closed reduction. I am now showing signs of a brachial plexus injury. I had MRI's of my left shoulder, left humerus, and brachial plexus. I also had an abnormal nerve conduction study, the reason for the last MRI. Maybe your shoulder still is able to slide back into place unlike mine, but you may have some damage to some supportive muscles which allow it to slide out again! Definitely get it xrayed! Let me know what happens!

Hi everyone
I had a MRI, CAT scan and x-rays when I was up at Mayo. I then sat with the Doctor to go over the results.
My tentons and ligaments are stretch out rubber bands (as he described it) and my arm is haning away from my shoulder. It is not dislocated, they can't but it back in place with out a fusion. My arm bone did fall forward. And to put that back into place will also require fusion. He said wearing a brace is only temporary relief and yes I'd have to wear it forever to feel any better. I full use of my hand, although very painful, I use it everyday and all day. Wear a sling will take my very limited function away.
It is a huge surgery that would require a bone transfer, screws and a metal rod outside of body for 8 weeks. 1/3 of the time the surgery does not work so they would have to do it again.
We sat and talked to this Mayo doctor for about 45 minutes. I asked if he had ever done the surgery on BPI patient and he said no. He usually does fusions only on the worst cases (shattered shoulders). He hates doing them because patients lose so much function but they are NOT BP people so doing it on me would not result in lose of motion (I don't have it to begin with). I would use my scapula to move my arm forward or to pull it in. He'd set it slightly away from my body.
He went on to say I would benefit by doing this surgery in many ways; relief of pain of the hanging and my arm bone hanging forward, I would actually get a bit more movement and my arm would "look" better setting it all back in to place.
Lots to think about. Its a 4-6 month recovery and many trips back and forth...................
This the doctor I saw
http://www.mayoclinic.org/bio/10772782.html

Dr Bishop, Spinner and Shin do not do shoulder fusions.