United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hi to all. I've been reading through the messages, and I guess I don't have much to complain about, comparatively speaking. I fell off a dock (no, I wasn't drinking--just not looking where I was going) and wrecked everything on my way into the water. I guess I tried to stop my fall. My shoulder fractured into 5 pieces and dislocated, and my humerous was broken close to the shoulder. My surgery took 2 surgeons 3 hours. I got the best in town, because I'm a violinist in the Symphony. They put in an 8-shaped plate with 7 screws. I just had an appointment with the surgeon, and he says I have a brachial plexus injury, along with the other stuff, which explains why I have so much numbness, and why my muscles (deltoid, bicep, and the one on the forearm near the elbow) have atrophied. It involves the axillary nerve and the musculo-cutaneous nerve. I have been doing all the physio and then some. I can move my fingers, thank goodness, but my thumb and first finger are still numb. I can lift my elbow away from my body and actually touch my eyebrow, which I couldn't do at first. It's been 8 1/2 weeks. Has anyone recovered from this kind of injury? I'm 58 years old...not ready to retire.

Joan,
I completely understand where you are coming from, and I am very sorry to hear about your injury.
I was a piano performance major when I suffered my bpi... I unfortunately have not been able to play since.

The best people to answer that question is yourself and your doctors. For every person, the injury affects them differently. 8 1/2 weeks is also a short period of time. I've been dealing with mine for almost 4 years. I would say, don't give up and keep striving and pushing yourself forward.
If you have any other questions or ever need to talk, just let me know.
gillian