Daughter with bpi

This board is for adults and teens to discuss issues relating to BPI since birth (OBPI).
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Roza
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Jun 08, 2005 10:20 pm

Daughter with bpi

Post by Roza »

Hi All,

My daughter is currently 21 months and has a brachial plexus injury from birth and it affected her right arm. She currently has 70% usage and can lift her arm to about her face. She cannot supinate (I believe that's extending her elbow) and cannot twist her wrist. What I was wondering from people that are older, will her right arm grow in proportion to her left arm and what type of function will she eventually have. Currently her right arm is about 4" shorter than her left arm. Also, I would like to know if anyone has gone to a Chiropractor for treatment and if that has helped their arm improve.

Thank you in advance for getting back to me.

Roza
Carolyn J
Posts: 3424
Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2004 1:22 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: LOBPI. I am 77 yrs old and never had a name for my injuries until 2004 when I found UBPN at age 66.

My injuries are: LOBPI on upper body and Cerebrael Palsy on the lower left extremities. The only intervention I've had is a tendon transplant from my left leg to my left foot to enable flexing t age 24 in 1962. Before that, my foot would freeze without notice on the side when wearing heels AND I always did wear them at work "to fit in" I also stuttered until around age 18-19...just outgrew it...no therapy for it. Also suffered from very very low self esteem; severe Depression and Anxiety attacks started at menopause. I stuffed emotions and over-compensated in every thing I did to "fit in" and be "invisible". My injuries were Never addressed or talked about until age 66. I am a late bloomer!!!!!

I welcome any and all questions about "My Journey".
There is NO SUCH THING AS A DUMB QUESTION.
Sharing helps to Heal. HUGS do too.
Location: Tacoma WA
Contact:

Re: Daughter with bpi

Post by Carolyn J »

Hello Rosa,
Welcome to the Message Boards. It seems to be a collective consensus of adults who post here,I sppeak for just me tho',that my left arm has remained 3-4 inches shorter than my unaffected one. Chiropracters have been mentioned in other Topics here, but I personally haven't tried it yet...mostly about funding problems really.
There are several Topic threads pertaining to both your questions. I'm sure the "search" box will lead you to alot of information. Keep coming back,ya' hear?
Hugs~
Carolyn J,age 67 & LOBPI
Carolyn J
Adult LOBPI
Angela Butterfly
Posts: 483
Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2003 4:24 pm

Re: Daughter with bpi

Post by Angela Butterfly »

Dear Roza, I bumped up the most recent Chiro posts I found. Go over to the General site please to find it.

My daughter was born severe LOBPI in 1984. Her arm is shorter, and her shoulder is smaller. Her injury may have been more severe than your childs. Her injury affected her entire left torso, shoulder, arm, hand and fingers. NO MOVEMENT or FEELING. So it all really depends on the extent of each persons injury.

I did take all of my children to a chiropractor, and believe the info given on the other post I brought up is good. As far as if it helped the BPI, I could not be sure, since I used every therapy I could do then. I certainly don't think it hurt. Actually a good family friend wanted me to take her immediately to her Chiro and I said I was still wading through the other doctors, my daughter only a few weeks old, and told her to hang on with that idea. Well my friend was relentless, and so we started going when she was only a few months old.

Based on the severity of my daughters injury, she got remarkable return. Surprised the heck out of most doctors and even O.T.'s & P.T.'s. I did my best to keep up with the daily Therapy at home too for over 10 years.
kamren
Posts: 262
Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2004 7:19 am

Re: Daughter with bpi

Post by kamren »

I have never gone to a chiropractor. Money being the reason, as with Kath.

As for my arm length, yep my left arm is several inches shorter than my right. It also appears a bit shorter because it doesn't straighten completely.
cristina

Re: Daughter with bpi

Post by cristina »

I'm 26 years old and have OBPI on my right arm. Yes my right arm is shorter than by left by about 4 inches or so.I also can't straighten elbow or twist my wrist. My wrist would just hang down, when I was 18 I had it fused so it sits straight. I can't lift over my head, however I'm going to have mod quad surgery w/ dr. nath in October and I'm going to lengthen by following that surgery. As far as your daughter's arm functions will depend on how she uses it and the extent of her injury. I never went to therapy as a child and I think if I had I would have been better off now. I have been lifting weights for the past 5 years which has helped me gain bicep and shoulder strength. But if you have the means too take her to a brachial plexus specialists. I hope this has helped
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