United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Ella has been doing well until recently I have noticed that around her elbow area she is very tight and it is always slightly bent. When I do her ROMs her arm will not extend as well as it did previously in the past few months. At first when she couldn't move her arm I always wished to see a crease near her elbow like her uninjured arm, but now the crease is there and it is so much different than the other arms...it looks very weird and like it's in the wrong place or something. It is hard to describe what I am seeing, but do any of you understand what I mean? Out PT said we will keep an eye on it, but I wish there was more for me to do besides just "keeping eye on it." I have been massaging her bicep area b/c that is where she seems to always be tight....I feel like it is my fault in some way like I am doing something wrong. She has been progressing so well lately and now this has come up! It makes me feel awful. I hate to look at her arm now b/c I see a huge difference in the way they look. Everyone tells me not to worry b/c I see it more than others, but I know from the bottom of my heart that there is something worse going on. We go to Boston next Monday to see Dr Waters and from there will find out if Ella may need surgery. We still have to do tests. I thought she was doing great and we would hear good news in Boston, but now I feel differently. I cant stand feeling like this!!!! I wish I could change it all! Thanks for listening!
Krista

Dr Waters is awesome and he will be able to explain the crease. He was able to make me feel much better abotu the ring around Kailtyn's bicept and he was right about when it would fade. This injury stinks for this very reason- soemthing always pops up even when the function is good. I know exactly how you feel about looking at the arm- it turns my stomach at times that it will never look the same but then I get grateful for all she does have- its a rollercoaster- good thoughts coming your way to deal with the bumpy ride. Blessed be. Carole

I know it's hard not to feel blame when our kids are going through this. Hang in there. I don't know how old your child is. But my understanding is that as my daughter begins walking she might tend to keep the arm bent to her side for balance. I'm sure there are different reasons for each child. But I was recommended an elbow splint to avoid this. Definitely check with the surgeon. And if the splint is recommended here is the website. I wish you all the best. www.medi-kid.com/armmenu.htm

WE KNOW HOW YOU FEEL ON THAT ONE FIRST IT WAS GET MOVEMENT AND THEN THE BENT ELBOW CAME ALONG. BE SURE AND CHECK WITH YOUR PT OR OT THEY SAY OVER STREACHING COULD IN SOME CASES HURT. KYNDALL IS NOW 19MTHS AND WE DID ALOT OF AQUA THERAPY THE ELBOW CAME ALONG WAY FROM THE START SO MAY BE THAT COULD GIVE YOU SOME HELP SHE ALSO HAD AN ELBOW SPLINT SHE HATED IT BUT IT WORKED SHE ALSO LOOSED THE ELBOW FOR SOME REASON AFTER WE TRIED THE BOTOX.

There are MANY reasons this can happen to an elbow - some correctable by splinting some not. I'm glad you are going to see Dr. Waters soon - he'll let you know what it is and how to correct it. Let us know ok?

We had a discussion recently about static splints versus dynamic splints for elbow contractures. A static splint is one that just pushes the arm to the limit and holds it there (air splint, pedi wrap, casted, molded). When there is a serious contracture this can cause a great deal of pain. And how do you get a bent arm into a straight thing anyway - I always wondered that and my concern panned out when I tried to get Maia into her pedi-wrap, which we were only able to get her in and keep her in there for a short game or two.

The dynamic splints keeps the arm in its bent position but puts light pressure into the joint so that the stretch it slowly accomplished. But even that won't work long term for a severe contracture...which is why we are hearing a lot about biceps tendon lengthening procedures.

anyway - let us know what Dr. Waters thinks about it ok?
good luck!
-francine

Hi, Krista. It's very easy to blame yourself for every little thing that goes wrong with this injury, but I hope that you really know it's not your fault. As much as you might feel like it sometimes, you're not a PT and there will be things you don't notice all the time. Plus, you're with Ella most of the time, so that's another reason why something could happen very slowly and slip past you. Often, even if we did know about things, we wouldn't be able to change them anyway. I hope Dr. Waters gives you some answers. Take care and keep us posted on your visit. -Tina )