United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hi I am very new to this group.

My baby was delivered on 2nd of march 2005 [just 3 days back], she is a heavy baby weighing 3.780 kgs and was pulled out using vacuum suction and now she can't lift her right arm/shoulder, because of the delivery trauma. She has a very strong grip and is moving her hand and fingers and also elbow slightly. The x-ray was ok and no fracture was see. The paediatrician told me that she has movemant in the right arm but slightly less and she will be alright after 2-3 weeks of massage and exercises. So she transferred the case to physiotherapy department in the hospital.

I have an appointment tomorrow. Now I want to know if anyone of you has passed thru this and knows how severe it is and how much time it takes for the infants to start the normal functioning of the arm. Please do email me ASAP, may be now.

This condition is going to be better or not. and I ould like to know your opinion about it.

NOTE: She can move her hand and elbow a little but she can't lift her arm.

I will be so obliged, if you sugesst any points to remember and anything in particular to ask the doctor tomorrow when I go.

regards,
Jessy

Hi, Sarah has just turned 3 years old and she is 95-100% recovered. Her injury was like what you described your little one, except she didn't have the elbow movement. She began therapy @ 2 weeks and her recovery started very soon after. It came a little at a time. Sarah has never had surgery, only formal therapy and therapy (pay time) at home.

If you have any questions, feel free to email me.
msoileau@charter.net

Good luck and God Bless you and your family

Mandie

Wow, I'm shocked for so many reasons. First, that you already know what's wrong with your baby (brachial plexus injury), second that you are already doing research about it (that's great!), third that the doctors even told you what was wrong with the baby, and fourth that it's STILL happening to babies. My OB never told me what was wrong with my daughter. She just said, Oh she'll be fine in a couple weeks. I found out from the pediatrician at her 2 week check up that it was a birth injury called Erb's Palsy. My daughter did not have any movement in her right arm or hand so I think it must be good news that your daughter is already moving her fingers and has a grip. You'll probably want to find a PT and an OT too just to make sure you're doing the correct exercises and helping your daughter regain as much as she can. That's what's really helped our daughter. We've been lucky because she is surgery free to date at 2 1/2. Every injury and every child is different though so it's hard to tell at this point how your daughter will be later. That's great that you're so informed and have found a site that can help in your research.

I e-mailed you.

~Krista~

You are very lucky you found this website this early.
I am sure you are going to find links to many wonderful doctors in the UBPN website.
I don't believe anyone in this website should tell you where and how to treat your child unless they are doctors and have seen your child in their office for an evaluation.
Ask your therapist in if he/she has treated kids with the same injury as your child and for how long and how often they seen patients as your child. Find yourself a specialist in this type of injury.

Congratulations on your new born baby, good luck.

hi,
I am also very new to this group, although my daughter is 3 years old and was injured at birth. I am really glad you found this site as soon as you did. It has answered a lot of my questions by just scrolling thru the boards. Katie's (my daughter) injury is much more severe than what you described. she has several avulsions (torn out nerves) in her left arm. I would be more than happy to speak with you. Please feel free to email me at Bayensfamily@sbcglobal.net

Jessy,
Welcome to UBPN; I'm sorry you had to find us, but I'm glad that you found us so quickly! Congratulations on the birth of your daughter!

It is really impossible for us to give you an opinion on how your daughter will heal, but I will tell you that the finger/hand movement and some elbow is great! The injury "usually" heals from the hand up the arm. Now I say usually because it can be different depending on which nerves were injured and how and where they were injured. Every individual's brachial plexus differs from right to left and differs from person to person, so it is extremely unlikely that your daughter's injury is like any others.

Keep up with the ROM and light massage and seek out Brachial Plexus Professionals.

Keep a daily journal of her movements and video monthly.

All the best to you!

Peggy

I am very sorry to learn that your child was affected by Erps, or a Brachial Plexus Injury. I noticed your very intelligent posting here. After about three years of reading and responding, I just wanted to inform you from the get-go that this site is visited by a limited and biased audience. My severe BPI daughter is approaching her fifth year, and many of those months I wasted in seeking guidance on this site.

This site is useful in networking with other families and for advice on petty matters. Otherwise, for matters that are medical and impact your child's future, you should trust your doctor, or otherwise you ask your doctor for alternative medical resources.

Jessy,

First of all congratulations on your baby girl! I have a daughter as well that was born with a right obstetric brachial plexus injury (ROBPI) she is now 2 1/2 and doing great. I too would suggest getting her in with a OT as soon as possible. It is the one thing I feel I can thank my OB for, as soon as Sydnee was born he knew what had happened and I was scheduled to see a OT when she was only 4 days old. Sydnee was able to grasp your hand, and that was it. It was the scariest thing I have ever gone through, but you are so lucky to have this site, because of all of the wonderful info you can get from it! She will be fine! Sydnee has not had to have surgery, just a lot of therapy both with the therapist and a lot of home therapy. You are the one that essentially will help your child. My advise to you is to learn the therapy from your OT or PT and do it diligintly. I remember in the beginning I had to do Syds therapy four times a day. I litteraly would have specific times I would do it, and stop anything else that may have been going on. That may have been a little neurotic, but hey it worked for me. Also, just remember you are your daughters advocate, if you are not sure of an answer you have been given, speak up or get a second opinion. I am and always have been a really passive person, but I had to learn to become a little more aggresive, and voice my opinions. Good luck and if you need someone to talk to, I would love to give you my email address so we can talk. Good luck to you!

Cara

Hi , Sorry that you are going through this, but your childis already is already doing better than mine was at that stage - he had nothing for weeks - today at thirteen years he has no surgery and had alot of natural recovery there remained some weakness in certain muscle groups that lead to problems in the shoulder over time. WE were considered 95 % recovered , and were more or less dismissed from therapy around six years old and just supposed to keeep him active and using his arm. My advice would be to keep following up regularly once or twice a year as the muscle weakness lead to some problems that we should have been on top of. We have found the work of Dr.Pape to be amazingly helpful in treating the muscle weakness and issues that remained for Richard. It may be advisable yet for Richard to have some secondary surgery but he is really doing very well.-Get lots of second oppinions, and use many different techniques for a maximum recovery. Try to learn DR.Pape's approach and find a therapist trained in her ways - it has made a big difference for us.