United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

My hand was becoming claw-like years ago, before I started getting regular massage.

My massage therapist works quite a bit on my TBPI arm/hand, and I know it helps get the circulation going in there since it always 'buzzes" more and is warmer after a session.

It's definitely worth it!

I fall in pretty much the same condition as everyone else. Fingers are locked at the palm of the hand and cannot bend them to grip anything.

Same here. The surgery I recently had was a multiple tendon transfer. Has anyone else had experience with this?

I'll have to retrain my muscles but should get some gross finger function.

Besides my fingers looking waxy the appearance of my clawed hand is the most discomforting. It is not my fingers that do it. My fingers and hand are actually quite straight. I learned early on to strectch them for long periods of time three time a day while in the hospital. I was trained in flecton and 'deflection(?). As a result of that extensive therapy and my constant wearing of my brace my fingers are only slightly straight but the back of my hand in concave and my fingers are real fat at the base. I can no longer bend my fingers with my other hand as a result of poor follow-up on my dr's and therapists part and poor follow through on my part.
I failed miserably in my own occupational therapy and now I pay the piper.
Best of luck,
Scott(Texas)

hi how has your tendon transfer worked i last week got claw hand and am seeing a specialist tomorrow your knowledge would be appreciated regards jamie

I have a severe traumatic BPI with avulsions, and before I had nerve transfer surgery done at the Myo Clinic in October of 2007 I met with someone who had surgery done a few years previously. Though she was pretty happy with the results, I honestly must say that the "clawed hand" appearance you all are talking about contributed to my surgery decisions. I chose to have nerve transfers that restored function (hopefully!) to my shoulder and elbow but not my hand, trying to limit the amount of invasive surgery as much as possible. I was told by the surgical team at Mayo that with the degree of my injury that there was only a 40% chance of restoring any movement to my hand, and I saw that the clawed hand I would expect to have appeared completely unnatural and drew much more attention than my flaccid, open palm. The woman I met with was only able to give a couple of examples of function she gained from the surgery -- the ability to open doors, hold down paper and books -- but she had a number of increased problems. Her skin was constantly blistering and her fingernails kept growing into her palm, and she had repeated skin infections as a result. Because of the lack of sensation she was unaware when the infection became a serious, dangerous, problem. Eventually she had her thumb fused outwards to decrease the heat blisters. Like I said, after seeing her difficulties I decided I was better off just deciding against trying to get a "clawed hand", at least for now. We'll see if I change my mind after I find out whether of not the rest of my surgery worked!

my hand is clawed to. I used to wear a brace but it has not done much good.

I have the opposite as far as my hand goes. In the beginning I was told of the 'claw' effect and that I should maintain a constant vigil as far as stretching and manipulating my fingers and hand.
Now I can't close it. I halfassed my PT as usual and now I'm left with this long, shiny, bony hand with the base of all my fingers are swollen. I can not turn my hand enough to actually see the tops of my fingers. Clipping the nails is so scary because I can't see or feel them correctly.

Does anyone have anything like this?
Thanks for your input
Scott

Just curious,but does anyone know why some bpi's have clawed hands and some dont even when all nerves have been avulsed?
also any good tendon transfer websites,I'v been looking but havent really found a good one.

cheers karl

I am a LOBPI and my left claw hand got very painful so I started keeping a rubber ball /stress ball /or a rolled up soft washclothe anything that feels good to the claw hand. It feels best in warm water so i found out when i did light water aerobics in warm water pool.
Carolyn J
LOBPI/75