United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Chris

I am sorry that you feel so much pain.
Not just the physicial but the emotional pain that all of us have gone through from time to time...

The true value of man is not his physical being but his soul and his spirit... A good Dad... is more then many children could even dare to dream of... time for you to start to see the real value in what you are doing raising your children... It is hard to do because society does not value the stay at home parent... so we have to learn to value ourselves...

Now for the pain issues. Have you seen a bpi doctor?
Not just any doctor. For almost 60 years evertime I spoke to a doctor about my arm they just glazed over and offered me a pill to make the pains and aches go away. Five years ago I started to really loose the good arm... I started on a quest to find out about "Erb's Palsy" I hit one brick wall after another... then the words Brachial Plexus... showed up on a page... and I began the hunt... It took me a long time to read the material and to understand it... It took almost a year before I consulted a bpi doctor... it took months before I met with another one and then a year and a half after I found these message boards... I became strong and determined that I was not going to live out my remaining years in pain and could not loose the good arm... I became pro active in my care... I did massage therapy... Aqua therapy (on my own in a hot tub at a local pool) I went to support gatherings. I knew that I was not there to be evaluated for surgery but I wanted and needed to met others who really understood just what I was talking about. Meeting Judy, Nancy and now Stephanie (just this past weekend in Pa...gathering) was the most healing of all... It is important now that you know that there are others like you to reach out try to come to meet some of us... It really, really helps to meet others like yourself...
Tina our other bi-lateral is someone one I can't wait to meet... and hope we can...

My husband has lived with me all of these years and he also learned so much about obpi and now comes with me when I go to bpi picnics .... maybe your wife and children would also like to come to one....

I have my e-mail posted so that you can contact me... but please try to get some medical intervention for your shoulders and arms... a few years ago I could not move either arm and it was my rotator cuffs.. I had no surgery but lots of good physical therapy from a PT who cared enough to read all of the Awareness material I brought with me to our first visit...

Please don't say your sorry for having issues... we all did when we arrived at the boards... some we talked out... some we resolved and I think some will always be with us... but we do understand your issues.

Kath

I'm really sorry that you are having so much of a difficult time now. There is a technique I have learned for myself for pain control. It doesn't take the pain away permanently but it certainly helps it greatly when it is unbearable. Another thing that has helped on the spiritual level is daily affirmations. I can also point you in the direction of some books that may be helpful. Email me ok? francine@injurednewborn.com

-francine

Hi Chris
I'm Stephanie, 52 years old and left OBPI.
Just yesterday I attended the PA picnic and had the pleasure of meeting Kath, Nancy, Francine and many other parents and children with this injury.

All I can add to these wonderful words of advice and comfort that you've been given here is this...if you can, please get yourself and your family to one of these gatherings. You can read posts, medical literature, self help books, etc....but there is nothing more healing than to meet others like yourself and share in person. Nothing like being there in the flesh with them.

When I got back home, I e-mailed some pictures that I'd taken there to one of the mom's that I talk to allot. She wrote back that it must have been like "being adopted and finally meeting your biological family." Sharing your "issues",and we all have them, with others going through the same thing, is the best healing you can receive.

-Stephanie

Chris - here I am posting the links to the process that helps me on a daily basis to get through the pain.

http://www.emofree.com
you can download the EFT manual here for free
- see the links on pain relief

I taught this technique to Nancy Birk and to Kathleen Mallozi and both have had success with it.

Here is another take on the same type of procedure...
http://www.unstressforsuccess.com/

I hope you check these out and I hope it helps you find a balance in all of this.

Peace,
francine

Chris - I was in the hospital for a bit and am home now. Want you to know that I used the EFT techniques to get through IV and needling that I am just petrified of. It worked and it worked so well that the nurses were so surprised(because they were really hurting me and they knew it). Are you in the states? I'd love to talk to you by phone about this and teach you how to do it.

-francine

This works... thanks to Francine taking the time to teach me how to tapping... I can stop the zing in the wing.... it feels as if I am always getting e-stim... but I need to do something that distracts from the feeling and as soon as it starts I tap... and gone! Don't know why but it works!

Kath

Chris, I sent you an email, I do hope it goes through. If it dosen't and you're reading this, answer with another way I can get in touch with you. I'd like to talk/chat with you.

WELL THEIRS ALOT TO THAT MY HUSBAND STAYS AT HOME TO OUR SON JUST DX WITH R ARM BPI ITS BEEN REALLY HARD FOR US I ALSO HAVE A 10 YR OLD ALL STAR SOCCER PLAYER WHO REALLY HURTS FOR HIS BROTHER WERE ALL VERY OVER PROTECTIVE I'M GLAD MY HUSBANDS HOME WITH HIM IT MAKES ME FEEL BETTER GOOD TO HEAR FROM YOU

sorry i typed all caps didn't mean to scream at u lol.