United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hello all, this is my first time on here. Have just been trying to get on with my life without help. I have had my BPI since 3rd August 2001. I had avulsion of C7, C8 & T1 in my left shoulder. Its now come to the point of me considering amputation. I'm not going into it blind and have given the matter some serious thought and from what i have read on here it is reiterating everything i have thought myself, (better quality of life, more comfort etc). I live in Gran Canaria so the weather is very hot all the time. I know i would feel more comfort if i have the amputation. I was talking to a doctor the other day and he said the DREZ has now been stopped because the pain tends to return after a year or so. He also mentioned he had been involved in trials for a drug at Kings Hospital in London which would be benificial to all who are on Gabapentin. It may be worth asking about, its called Topiramate. Anyone with views on amputation, please, i would like to hear what you have to say. I have finally realised something, a BPI is something you can cope with alone, but its often better not to. Jonathan.

Hello all, this is my first time on here. Have just been trying to get on with my life without help. I have had my BPI since 3rd August 2001. I had avulsion of C7, C8 & T1 in my left shoulder. Its now come to the point of me considering amputation. I'm not going into it blind and have given the matter some serious thought and from what i have read on here it is reiterating everything i have thought myself, (better quality of life, more comfort etc). I live in Gran Canaria so the weather is very hot all the time. I know i would feel more comfort if i have the amputation. I was talking to a doctor the other day and he said the DREZ has now been stopped because the pain tends to return after a year or so. He also mentioned he had been involved in trials for a drug at Kings Hospital in London which would be benificial to all who are on Gabapentin. It may be worth asking about, its called Topiramate. Anyone with views on amputation, please, i would like to hear what you have to say. I have finally realised something, a BPI is something you can cope with alone, but its often better not to. Jonathan.

The second worse thing after the pain of an icy-cold arm is the uncontrollable sweating of a hot one. In the heat of Gran Canaria, no BPI arm would be a lot more comfortable. However, you're only 2 years down the line. Perhaps it might be an idea to wait a little longer and see if anything happens.