United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

hi to all of you ive just found this web site after looking for 2 years god theres so many questions for me to ask. i had cervical rib removed in feb 03 a genral surgeon done the op and basiclly ballsed it up hes caused this branchil plexus injury i do have some movement in my arm i had none for months after surgery i found out on wednesday the doc would have known straight after surgery what he had done and i should have been sent to the royal orthapedic hospital straight away instead he kept me there for 8 days 2 years later im finally seeing the right doc im so angry the professor i saw said hes even cut me open in wrong place and hes never seen anyone cut under arm for a rib removale in the neck im sorry if this is all over the place but theres so much for me to say and ask ive just had baby so im of all med i was on gabapentin amytriplyn voyoxx tramadole diazipan tamazipan (not all at same time some were) but none of these took pain down to a exceptable level ive got pain clinic soon is there any meds other than them i said that help any tips on baby care anyone heard of professor birch hes going to try and repair and remove scar tissue in april i hate the thought of going to sleep and waking up with them feelings again the only way i could discribe the sensations to the doc was big fat hot rats scratching and tearing at my arm the sensations are not as bad but i now get (best if i list them)
ice cold to the bone arm
twiching
sweating
spasming
electric
constant crippling back aches
neck aches/spasms causing me to pass out not from the pain im told but it cuts blood supply to my brain
reversed curved spin from the spasms
im not listing any more it depresses me if any one has any tips to releave any of these symptoms i would really apreciate them...im sorry i just re read what i wrots i sound like a right wingg bag i used another site b 4 this one the closest i got to speeking with others with this was on thoratic outlet which i had b 4 the op i would glady pay to have it again and my extra rib... i feel like that surgeon raped my arm cause he screwed it and left me to get on with it.. if this was caused by an acident maybe i wouldnt be so angry after the op he told my family he hadnt done an op like mine in 13 years that mad us all feel so much better if only he told us b 4 ........
once again i would like to say sorry for going on i wished none of you had this but im glad i found you...things could be worse i have 3 georgous sons and a wonderfull husband i just wish i could be the wife he married and the mum i was.
thank u all

Hey -
Sounds like you've been through the wringer. Probably about ALL of these bpi injuries could have been avoided one way or another - be they accidents or birth trauma.

Just a quick note to say that Dr. Birch is EXCELLENT. Some people in the States have even gone over there for consults with him. You'll be in good hands (finally!)

You're so fortunate to have a family that supports you.

Take care,

Ellen

thanks i hope he is the doc of my dreams bit scary really he says you call me ralph he looks like a gardner but i do have a lot of faith in him thanks for reply

Hi DeeDee
Wow sorry to hear about all your troubles but I can at least reassure you that you are in the best possible hands with Professor Birch, he was reconstructing brachial plexus nerves when most other doctors were still in nappies!
There is a support group and website in the UK you might be interested in. The website is at www.tbpi-group-org and the attached message board is at http://pub28.ezboard.com/badultswithbra ... usinjuries . There are a lot of Brits posting there, many of them have Prof Birch as their doctor. They are a very informal and friendly lot, have a look and maybe someone will turn out to live near you.

Í hope the Prof can help you out, let us know how things go and maybe I'll see you posting on the UK website some time.
Take care
Jen NZ

I realise you don't sue as much as us Yanks, but it sounds like you have grounds for a malpractise suit if there ever was one!

hi i am suing the nhs the solicitors got them on loads of things he was a genral surgeon doing a thoratic surgeons job so he should have done it to the same standard the solisitor said i should get 30k but it will cost the solisitors 130k done on a no win no fee so nhs could be sued for 160k with me getting 30k seems weird really i will still be in pain in 40 years and they get more still there arms are better than mine and obviously so is there brain
thanks for reply