United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

After reading your e-mail I would like to know about your surgery and your severity of your bpi before surgery. 10 years ago I had a bpi. I live in England and to date we here they have no treatment for bpi's.
Many thanks Mark

Mark, there are quite a few bpi specialists in the UK, I even saw one 22 yrs ago when I got my injury in the UK- the two best known are probably Rolfe Birch at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital at Stanmore, and Simon Kay at St James's, Leeds. You can get a referral via your gp, who then refers you to your local ortho, who then refers you on to a bpi specialist if possible. To contact others from the UK click on my name, under 'homepage' in my profile is a website for tbpi, you may find some contacts in your area. Good luck :0)

What a relief to stumble upon your website !! We feel so alone here in South Africa. We were told by our Dr. that my husband has a complete BPI. He has no use or feeling from the shoulder down. He suffers with pain in his neck and lower back. He was injured on the 17th of April 2004. Any suggestions on pain relief, other than using pain meds for the rest of his life ? We have two small children aged 2 and 4. We are still adapting to life with only three hands in the house!! Please let me know how other families cope with this loss !!

Hi,
I'm glad that you found UBPN! You might get more responses if you post on the Traumatic Brachial Plexus Injury message board.

Peggy

Thanx 4 the advice Peggy.

You're welcome and good luck to you and your family!
I'm sure you will find a great deal of support.

Peggy

> After reading your e-mail I would like to know about
> your surgery and your severity of your bpi before
> surgery. 10 years ago I had a bpi. I live in England
> and to date we here they have no treatment for
> bpi's.
> Many thanks Mark


I had surgery in Cape Town South Africa 20+ years ago. I have upper arm movement and elbow movement back...I took about six months, after surgery, before I could see the results.
I see you live in England. The Doctor that did the sugery is Dr Boome he now lives in England.(do not know if he still operates)

My son had this surgery too. He is living in Oregon and I wonder if your family isn't from there as well? Anyway, all surgeries have risks and I would ask your surgeon what the specific concerns are. Did your husband sustain a brain injury? My son did and the surgery was hard on him. Most of all, it was the pain. Its been almost 2 years and his sensation has grown to his elbow. He has more movement in his shoulder but little in his bicep. However, his therapy has been focused on his brain recovery and not so much on his arm. His surgeon has said to wait for several more year before considering further surgery to restore movement in his hand. This, I wonder about.

You might try asking another surgeon who only specializes in BPI nerve transfer surgeries about having this done. This is very specialized and many surgeons are sceptical about it. Your are welcome to contact me for further information if you'd like @ spinkydee@yahoo.com. Michele