United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I can share my limited understanding and experience with spasm or twitching in my affected arm. My understanding of lactic acid build up is that it's a chemical that builds up in your muscles when they function anarobically(sp?), meaning they don't get enough oxygen. It's possible that if you are starting to use your affect arm more to save the good one, that the circulatory system just needs times to develope, so your muscles get more oxygen, and less lactic acid build up. I used to have very strange twitches in my thumb and behind my shoulder blade when I started college, and that was because I had started practicing [trombone] much longer each day than my left(affected) arm was used to. I have done many simple motion exercises with the intent to increase the lean muscle mass and circulation in the affected areas of my BPI, and I can't rememmber the last time I had concern over it. I've been purposefully using my affected arm so much in the past few years, that when carrying groceries, etc., although my affected arm is no where near as strong as the good one, the affected arm actually does out last the good arm in endurance of carrying things. Hope this can be of help? Not sure it will, but that's my experience.

-Chris, 24 LOBPI

normally when i try to relax my arm, it starts to twitch.. it actually twitches when i type sometimes too... which i am really noticing now- lol! but at least i know it's a fairly common problem...
Mel, 21, LOBPI

I find ICE in the inside of the elbow helps alot for Pain. Thats what i do for years, Buts thats just me now OK.

PADI MASTER DIVER TOM

I have erbs in my right arm ... I'm 19 and in college i was born with the arm behind my back when i carry cartons of pop or anything with any significante weight which growing up on a horse farm was never a negotiation for me. My father stretched my arm and forced me to make it work like it was supposed to work. when i was 5 years of age the doctors said he had done more for me then they could have even with surgery. During school i played softball and was on the varsity dance team. But when lifting i would start to notice that the muscle kind of flipped in my upper arm. Has anyone else noticed these same issues?

I'm glad someone posted this topic. So many things happen to my BPI arm that I forget it's because of the BPI.

And, yes, I to have a twitching BPI arm. Comes and goes with no explanation (aside from what Lisa said about the lactic acid build up).

Hello everyone,
I have a grandson with O-BPI so I'm familiar with those initials but could someone tell me what L-OBPI means? Thank you.

L = left
R= right obsterical brachial plexus injury
tbpi= Traumatic brachial plexus injury


Message was edited by: Judy-T

Wow, you asked a question I've been wondering about. My thumb and index finger on my BPI arm have been doing this too. I joke that when I had an EMG they jump started it, it took 2-3 days to stop twitching then and has done it on and off ever since. Not sure if there's a connection or coincidence.

Maybe I'll ask my Neurologist in March when I go just in case.

-Traci

I've heard this posted before. Does anyone know why we can be holding things in the PPI arm and not know that it's there? I have full feeling in that arm,yet I can be looking for my keys or a purse or even a bill and run around looking like crazy--until--out of the corner of my eye, I spot it in the BPI hand.
Pat

YES, YES, YES.

Carolyn J