United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

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

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

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.

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.

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