United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hi Karen and Courtney-
Karen, I'm so sorry for your Dr's terrible bed side manner. Believe me I've had my share!
C5, 6 and 7 were completely avulsed at my spine. No damage to C8 or T1. I did not have surgery to repair those nerves, they (Mayo Clinic) tried a nerve transplant using a nerve from my right leg but it did not work. I have full use of my hand. Its actually very strong. Aurelia, the doctors at Mayo are amazed as well. But the down side....it is extremely painful. I use my hand all the time, I have three small children and using my feet to change a diaper wasn't working too well so I had to work my hand till it hurt. I also had a muscle transfer, done at Mayo, too. I have elbow flextion. I do a great job of hiding my injury. Almost everyone I met after my accident has no idea.
I had a motorcycle accident (and I don't even like them) in 1987, I was 17. My boyfriend, who did not survive the accident, hit a tree head on going 55mpr. I look at it as I'm lucky. I had no helmit on, he did. I had no broken bones in my face, his face shatterd. He lived for 1 month and died on his 18th b-day. So, its been 16 yrs now and twenty-some trips to Mayo Clinic. I'd love to keep in touch w/ you two and hear about you both.
Ingrid, go to Mayo Clinic and see Dr Bishop/Dr Spinner/ and Dr Shin. I also hear of good drs at Yale and Johns Hopkins.
Good luck, Girls.

Kath,

Since you're familiar with the Mayo BPI doctors you might be interested in the coverage of them shared in the thread about the Discovery Health Channel. There will ultimately be four episodes on Mayo, and this first one will include 15 minutes on the BPI group, including some footage of nerve graft surgery (if you can stand that kind of thing!). We thought highly of all three Mayo doctors but especially "connected" with Dr. Shin.

Ellen

Hi Kath,

I hear of these awful accidents and yours was terrible. I can't imagine what you went through all those years ago and losing your boyfriend at such a young age. I am sorry for your loss.
With your injury, you can't use your shoulder and upper arm? I am learning as each day goes by, the different nerves and muscles. Well I am trying to. From what I gather I have stretched C7,C8 and T-1. I cannot bend my elbow, wrist nor move any of my fingers or hand. I do feel sensations on the skin though. Hot and cold. I feel when my arm and hand are being massaged and I feel when it is being touched. I just cannot move anything. It would be so much easier even if I could move my fingers. Sometimes I forget that I can't and do I ever hurt my hand if I bang it into something. Kath and Courtney, I will let you know how my EMG goes on Friday. Thanks for your support. Love, Karen

Hey Kath post your email addy and I will email you with my story or email me at courtney@ubpn.org! Thanks!

Hi Courtney-
Herff94@yahoo.com......Kath's e-mail. Hope to hear from you soon.
Kath

I didn't have any MRI because my EMG showed root avulsion of C5-T1. Dr. Nath said that they needed to wait for 3 months and see. I had my accident while I was pregnant my little girl survived. I had my surgery while I was pregnant too 3 months after the accident, but I had to do it if I want to get my arm back. I just had my baby 09/04/03 and she is just fine and precious. The surgery showed 3 root avulsions only c7 c8 and T1. I am 4 months after my surgery and my triceps is starting to move.

Karen, See below for muscles innervated by which nerve.

Spinal roots Muscle innervated
C 5/6
DELTOID
BICEPS
BRACHIORADIALIS
INFRASPINATUS
SUPRASPINATUS
C 6/7
PRONATOR TERES
FLEXOR CARPI ULNARIS
C7
TRICEPS
LATISSIMUS DORSI
C 7/8
extensors and flexors
of the wrist
T1 intrinsic muscles of the hand

HI Aurelia,

Thanks for the break down of the muscles. I am going to print that and look these up in a book I got from the library yesterday. This may seem dumb but what does innervated mean? I am sure I will find out all of my questions tomorrow from the doc doing my EMG. I have heard he is very good. I'll let you know how it went. Thanks. Karen

HI KAREN!!
INNERVATED MEANS WHAT MUSCLES ARE STILL AFFECTED BY NERVES--THAT IS, HAVE NERVE IMPULSES RUNNING THRU THEM OR TO THEM TO MAKE MOTION AND FEELING----MAKE SENSE?? WILL BE THINKING GOOD THOUGHTS ABOUT YOUR EMG APPOINTMENT TODAY--HOPE IT FINDS THAT YOUR INJURY IS A STRETCH ONE, AND THAT YOU EXPERIENCE THE SAME THING DAVID DID AFTER HIS EMG--SOME MOVEMENT!!I KNOW THIS IS NOT SCIENTIFC AT ALL, AND MAYBE JUST DUMB LUCK, BUT IT WAS AFTER THAT TEST THAT DAVID HAD MORE PAIN THAN HE EVER HAD AFTER THE INITIAL INJURY, AND THEN BEGAN GETTING MOVEMENT IN HIS WRIST...I HOPE AND PRAY IT WILL BE THE SAME FOR YOU!!!
SENDING YOUR WAY!! ~~~~SUZIE~~~~~

Karen~
Thinking about you today. I hope it goes quickly! Let us know how you are asap.
Kath