United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

What about scars? How do they look?

Regarding scarring, Michael had nerve op May this year. Cut from neck to palm of hand and then left hand side of neck and up right hand leg from ankle just below knee. As for scarring in this procedure, I have to say the scars look quite well. The only problem he has had is with the right side of the neck. This scar has got a little bit thicker, but have recently got on to a silicone stip that you put on the scar for a period of 3 to 6 hours a day, they dont know why it helps but it does. It takes the redness out of the scar and stops the scar from raising and stretching. Have the admit the scars are quite fine really and he doesn't seem to have a problem with them. One other trick it to massage vitamin e cream or vitamin e oil into the scars from day one. This helps immensely. Hope this is a little bit of help for you...regards Narelle and Michael.
P.S. Apparently the silicone is used for burns victims and help scarring and is really successful.

I had tendon transfers for my wrist and fingers. My wrist and thumb can now extend, but my fingers still can't extend at the knuckle. As far as scars, i have a small scar less than an inch on my palm, A few other small ones on each side of my wrist, and two scars that are about 3 inches long on the top and bottom of my wrist. They have all faded considerably though.

Linsy, was your doctor trying to get all the fingers to extend? I'm asking you that because according to my doctor, this is supposed to be an easy operation. I am starting to get the jitters again about my op. How long did you stay in the hospital?

Ya, we were trying to get all my fingers to extend. Basically, I can extend the tips of my fingers, but i can't extend at the knuckles. With the help of OT, i'm working at getting as much extension as i can. My doctor didn't think there was anything else we could do though. The surgery wasn't bad at all. I was in the hospital for about three days, and the pain wasn't too bad. It's hard to say though, because they also did a nerve transfer from my calf. But i will tell you that my leg did hurt for a few weeks after the pain in my arm subsided. One of the greatest things that the surgery achieved was wrist flexion, so it definitely helped. Let me know if you have any other questions.

Linsy