United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I am glad this came up, Try this one. Go back to the sporting good store and try a small desposiable Hand Warmer that can fit in a glove. If it works buy a better one. I used one for years -o dealing with the semis and loading freight. This was the only way I could get out of the purple range in my hand. Hope it helps?

Tom

wonder if one of those may work if I find a way to wrap it on my upper arm. If I'm at work I need to have both hands available, but I never thought of maybe taking an old sock and cutting it so it's like a band then putting one of the hot packs under it.
Hmmm, that may help.

That's such a good idea! I never even thought about hand warmers. I'll have to definitely try that.
Also if you want to wrap your arm you could always try an ace wrap I think its called. Just lay the hand warmers on your arm and wrap them up.

Sure enough , cut the sock or use a ace. Ive done both, I need to have my hands free to . If its real bad I have used it under my arm pit. Warming the blood flow does help the numbness and color for sure.

Tom

Oh, Back to the hand warmer and glove. The desposiable hand warms ones are flat and small slip in the glove in your plam or top of you hand. They look like those packs of ketcup you get at mc Donalds, just about twice the size . They dont get in the way for your hand because of there size. The glove holds it in place.

Tom

One of the many things obpi discussed is the fact that we are all different. My arm freezes, even if the rest of me is warm. Traci I can soooo identify with the one sleeve on!

Be careful with hand warmers, most obpi arms have problems with temperature control due to poor circulation. Ace bandages must not be too tight, you don't want to effect your circulation. You don't want your arm to overheat either.

I worked on the information for the Medic Alerts and sent questions to doctors regarding information for medic alerts. The bpi specialist agreed that we should not have IV's, needle sticks due to the high possibility of infection and poor circulation. It was during one of those email conversations that I question the importance of noting Horner's Syndrome and the specialist said it was important to note it on Medic Alert.

My family doctor laid down the law about shots and IV's when I was very small. I was so surprised when I found others were not aware of this when I first came to UBPN.
But, I thought I had a rare injury 10 years ago. Now we know different. I was treated out of NY Hospital in NY as a child and don't know if that was their instructions or just my family doctors. Either way, they were ahead of their time considering my age.

Sarah we have an Injured Only workshop at camp and it's amazing how much we learn from each other. I hope you and your Mom can make it next year. I wish I had an opportunity to meet others, with this injury, when I was young.

Does you Mom post to the Message Boards? I hope so because the Mom's are great support for each other.

Kath Robpi/adult

Thank you for the website for the mismatched things... I never wear matching socks!! i ordered the catalog!!

Sure enough Kath is right, be careful using a hand warmer. If you are young reading this talk to your parents before using a hand warmer. Things are differant in all of with erbs to a point for sure. I was dealing with a job that took being outside for long periods of time when it was minus -O.

Tom

Kath,
I'm really hoping to make it to the camp next year. My mom doesn't post to the message boards on here. Mainly because she works so much she doesn't have alot of spare time. I usually keep her informed and have her read most of the stuff on here. I have been thinking about getting her to start posting. I think it would really help her talking to other parents, since she still gets upset over my injury. Thanks for all the info too!
Sarah/13/ROBPI

Sarah
You keep encouraging your Mom to read and post. It really helps the Mom's not to feel so bad about our arms.

My Mom never met another Mom who had a baby injured like me to talk to. She died feeling sad and guilty about my injury. She was lucky many doctors told her it was not her fault but I don't think that made her feel better. I use to be on the BOD of UBPN and I volunteered to honor my Mother and how much work and love she put into make me such an independent person.

If she has any questions she does not want to post, please tell her to feel free to email me. I'll be happy to answer any thing I can for her.

Kath robpi/adult