yes susan, as far as I know I have avulsed c4 thru T1, I had very severe Horners at first altho over years (10 or more) it's got a lot less noticeable. My pain was what I considered intolerable for the first few months but an early return to work forced me to stop taking the meds and I really did find that after the weaning off process my pain actually got a lot less. It has never gone away completely but it's manageable now, when it's not I use cannabis.
Bear in mind that a positive nerve graft result has been found to be the single biggest factor in relief of pain. Not saying it works for everyone, but it does work for some.
Looking at what your doc says about elbow flexion-I have elbow flexion which came in spontaneously around 2.5 years post accident (when all the docs said it wouldn't/couldn't possibly!) which has frankly never been much use to me, however I am planning to amputate and from speaking to others who already have done so that elbow flexxion may prove very useful with a prosthesis. At the UK tbpi camp, I noticed amputees holding cups of tea and even pints of beer with their stump using what biceps they had, whereas myself and Liz, who both have elbow flexion but no lower arm use, were not able to use our arms in this way at all.
Maybe others who have regained elbow flexion would comment, I can only talk for my own experience.
Remember Susan, unless you've had exploratory surgery, noone knows how bad your injury is until they get in and have a look. Hopefully things aren't as bad as you think.......GOOD LUCK!
First operation and nervous
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jennyb
- Posts: 1183
- Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2001 5:24 pm
- Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: January 1980 Yamaha RD200 vs 16 wheeler truck, result, 1 totally paralysed right arm. I was 21, now 54. I had no surgery, I don't regret this. Decided to totally ignore limitations (easily done aged 21) adapted very quickly to one handed life, got married, had 3 kids, worked- the effect of the injury on my life (once the pain stopped being constant) was minimal and now, aged 54, I very rarely even think of it, unless I bash it or it gets cold, then I wish I'd had it amputated :) Except for a steering knob on my car, I have no adaptations to help with life, mainly because I honestly don't think of myself as disabled and the only thing I can't do is peel potatoes, which is definitely a good thing.