United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

your doing great, you keep doing what ever you can do that will in power you the rest of your life.I still remeber when I first wanted to drive a semi and a doctor would not pass me on my physical he said I would be unsafe because of my ERBS.I didnt let that Doctor stop me I went to another Doctor and he told me that no Doctor should stop me from trying to learn to drive a semi,I have over 20yrs driving trucks and semi with out a accident and I am a Master Diver with over 200dives.Stay Strong and God Bless...

I had a bad fall bakc on9/9/01 which gave me a bleed in the upper part and temporal area. Fortunaley I survived but now the nerve endinga are getting worse and spreading through out my body. MY motor funcian is off and Iloose ballance offter leading to tripping. My Neurologist says its bracial blexes in my cervical spine as well as severl disc hurniated. He sugggested a nerveblock near the neck are to releave the burning and redness I have in my scalp and ears along with some on the face. I also was toldby a patient they do not recomend this as it not always work and sometime leves it going into other areas. Pleas help me I am so sidtraught.
My e-meil is elvis0195@aol.com
Dolores Irrera
2529 So Colorado ST
Phila PA 19155
215-468-6215
My blessingsfor any help

Hello! I didn't see the 20/20 show. I really found this website by accident. I was looking around to see if there was anyone else that ever heard about Erb's Palsy when I found this website, then I cried. No one in my family could relate to my feelings of what I had or was going through. I am 31 now. I am so glad to meet everyone else out there.

I wrote a brief description of myself earlier. I was a large baby & was caught in the birth canal when the doctor pulled my right arm/shoulder...& every one knows the rest.

I can raise my arm to my waist. Part of my arm is numb, part is so tender I can't stand any one to touch it, grip is ok, each day my fingers get worse, my shoulder really aches more & more each day, it is smaller than my left arm. I am trying to find a good doctor in my area (B'ham Alabama). The one I alway saw retired. I feel like there is no doctor out there that can help me.

I don't feel sorry for myself. I just thank God that I have 2 arms. I am married & have 2 wonderful children. I wonder if any type of surgery could help me???

I really want to more about this camp. I AM SO GLAD TO MEET YOU!!!

Deanna

Welcome Deanna

Want to know more about camp... please send your name and address to nancy@ubpn.or you can get a copy of Outreach with all sort of information and a camp resistration...

I am going to camp and we plan on have a roundtable talk for us big kids with Erb's...

I am glad you found us. It is so good when you can talk to others who understand... and share and learn from each other...

Kath

Dolores

I am so sorry you are in such pain. You can check and post this information on the TBPI... board. The tbpi board is for recently injured and most folks there are really up to date on current medical help you may need...

http://ubpn.org/messageboard/forum.jsp?forum=18


This is a link to the Medical Resource Directory it may help you find a doctor in your area...

http://ubpn.org/medicalresources/us-bpi.html

I hope this helps
Kath

Hello everyone,
I am Melanie and I have Brachial Plexus of the right arm. I don't know all the medical terms. so I am not attempting.......I cannot lift my arm, twist my wrist and wiggle my fingers. My doctor was Dr. Eng at Washington DC's Childrens Hospital. Of course she is now retired and my primary doctor has no clue as many of them. As I'm getting older, my good arm is starting to age...arthritis, tendonitis, etc. AND I'm only 31. I have been lifting weights for 12 years now and I think this has helped my mobilty but ofter wonder if I'm making matters worse. I have been coming to this sight off and on for a couple years but am very bad with the e-mails. Of course I didn't see the 20/20 episode and would love to see it. Anyone know how I can obtain a copy? Thanks and I will try to keep up the e-mails. Thanks

Time to move this to the top...

For all the new readers

Kath

Time to move this up to the top again for all the new obpi adults.

Hi everyone
We are from Illinois. I am Angela 50, the mother to Jill, age 19 LOBPI weighing in at 10# 8oz. Her injury affected her entire Left torso, shoulder, arm, elbow, hand & fingers. It was limp, and had absolutely no feeling for a long time. I used to pinch her, and forever forward, one day she cried. Jill does not have pain, except in her left hand occasionally. Her forearm is frozen in neutral, and she has ulnar deviation. She can individually move each finger to oppose her thumb. She can reach her hand up as high as her forehead. And is able to bear weight on her elbow. She has a slight contracture at her elbow. For years and years she wore a brace/splint (from under arm to fingers) while sleeping, to keep her left arm straight.

When she was born, I took her first to Peoria, where I was told to take her home, nothing could be done. After Peoria, friends told me to call a local mom with a 10 year old Spina Bifada son and she told me to do therapy with a childrens therapist, and we don't have those around here, so that mom helped me to get in at Chicago. The Chicago doctors told me Jill's injury was so severe, they were sure the nerves were avulsed, and tried to send me home too. Thank God for the words of wisdom from that mom. I demanded therapy. I, the mean old mom, learned and did a lot of almost daily, at home therapy. Martha E., P.T. at CMH, I love you. Kathleen Z., O.T. I love you too.

Jill has made tremendous gains. The early doctors were wrong. Jill had an EMG at age 6 weeks and another at age 14. Otherwise she has had no surgeries and no other medical tests. Many of her gains were made long after she started grade school. ie individual finger movement and from forearm only supinated to frozen in neutral. When Jill was born her sisters were ages almost 3 1/2 years and 17 months. She just followed along and did what they did.

Oh, about jumping rope as all little girls do in first grade. With jump rope handles in each hand, she would bend her right arm and leave her left arm straight, down at her side. Jill could bend her elbow, but for some reason did not when trying to jump rope. Consequently, I took the rope away and knelt down behind her and grasped both arms at her wrist and had to pattern in the movement. That was all she needed and she can jump rope too.

Jill 19, has a wonderful boyfriend of 3 years and is a sophomore in college to become a K-12 Art Teacher.

I only found this site 3 weeks ago, and only have daily internet over the summer, when my oldest of all 3 in college, moves back home.

Hello!! Its just me Rachel again. Wow, I am still amazed at all the people who stick together through this. I am left obpi and am 31 years of age. I just found this website in April and am still just amazed at all the great and helpful information. I am scheduled to have the mod quad surgery at TCH on Sept. 11, 2003. I am so nervous and excited at the same time. Just wanted to again thank all the wonderful people I have met through here and can't wait to meet more and share what I hopefully am about to experience with my surgery as an adult.
Thanks again everybody!!