United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

What is a concise way to explain that shots should not be administered in the BPI arm? Or is it okay?

For blood pressure and IV's and shots administered to the veins I know you aren't supposed to its because the veins are smaller than the non-bpi vein, so that the bp reading isn't as accurate and its harder to administer the IV or shots.

For shots that go to the muscles I do not have a very good explanation. Is it the pain? When thinking through it, I wonder if shots that are administered to the muscles are okay in the BPI arm?

Also, from you adults out there...what is your take on it?

Thanks,
Lisa

I don't really know if it is risky for Joshua to have shots in that arm or not. I guess my take on it is, he has been hurt enough there! And has to undergo PT and my constant fiddling and stretching... the least I can do is not purposefully inflict any other pain that could just as easily go in the other arm.

Not exactly rational

Kate

We were told by the pediatrician and neurologist that the circulation is slower in the injured arm and a shot or IV wound site could become infected because of deferred healing. Also the slower circulation is the reason for inaccurate BP and underarm temp.

MArlyn

http://ubpn.org/awareness/A2002linkmedical.html

Please go to this link and read the 4 different medical cards. I am sure keeping a copy of the 2 that best fit you or your childs cituation will help to explain why no shots in BPI arm.

There is a lot of excellent info if you go to the HOME page and on the bottum right hand corner click into the items in the AWARNESS box. That is where I went to get you the above link, for the Emergency Medical Cards.

My Jill had surgery to remove a LUMP in her right armpit, a few months before I found www.upbn.org.
When we got to the hospital early that A.M. the staff went to put an IV into her LEFT OBPI arm, and my INSTINCTS said not to do that. I told the nurse, so at 6:30 a.m. she called the SURGEON at home. WELL, the surgeon told her to use the left arm anyway......AAUURRGGHH. Of course, I am not a trained medical professional, and since the surgery itself was in her right armpit, I am not sure, all the other places they might have used, other than her LEFT OBPI arm.

I and my 3 daughters all donate blood at the American Red Cross. (my girls started donating at age 16, o.k. with parents signature) I always told Jill, to always use her right arm, for her blood donation.

I can't imagine how I would feel if I got a shot, BP or IV in my right arm. Not getting shots, blood tests, bp etc., was always part of my education regarding my arm. When I was young sometimes they would give you shots in school... like the polio shots and my family doctor to me to tell then NO shots and to call him if they wanted a reason. My mother told them but that did not mean they would have listened.
I would hate it... pain and spasams prevent it...
I hate emg it is so painful in the right arm for at least a week or two after. I have had them in both arms so I know the difference. I know how hard it is to get medical techs to listen but I stand my ground. Last time I was in the hospital I had to explain it to my doctor and he had my right arm red banded the same as a breast cancer paitents... it was better then me going through the explanation. However the nurses had lots of questions not insistant but they wanted to know why?
This information should be on medical alert tags just in case no one is able to speak/accident etc.

Angela I have so many problems with the veins on my left so called unaffected arm. Because all of the blood tests/IV and BP over the course of my life were taken on this arm. My veins are now hard with scar tissue and impossible to find a vein for blood tests.
I am the tech nightmare even using the butterfly. I suggest that Jill no long use her unaffected arm to give blood. My children and husband also donate blood since they were in high school.. all are AB positive and it seems they need it. The first time I wanted to donate blood I was 18 and told no by my family doctor. I had a brother dying of Hodgkins and he still would not allow it because he said I would need that arm for years to come and needed to perserve it.

Kath (adult/robpi)

AAAAAHHHHHH.....
Thanks Kath, for the heads up. So many things, ya just don't think about...that have an affect down the road.
Honestly, at no time ever was the shot issued discussed for Jill by any of her BPI doctors, and we had trouble finding or keeping a GP (in our area the good ones leave, soon after coming).
I did tho, as a baby and young child, get her Vacinations, in her non obpi arm.

Thanks all for the information...I guess I should check out the website more thoroughly, thanks for the link to the cards!

My dd was faced with getting FIVE shots and I automatically said no shots in the BPI arm and the nurse and hubby looked at me crazy and said "you really want to put all five shots in one arm?" Which also seemed ridiculous so we were trying to figure out what the best thing to do would be.

Thanks again!

I cannot have shots in my BPI arm, it hurts too darn much! But IV's are ok, though they sometimes have trouble not blowing the vein...
My BP is lower on that side, so not as accurate.

Lisa, after I posted, I did remember, that sometimes Jill got her Vacinations on the top of her leg (in the front). Of course they could always put a shot on one cheek, or the other of the BUM, couldn't they?

I got my Hepatitis B shot on my thigh as my BPI arm was out of the question and the "good" one I use for everythingso if it became sore that would limit what I could've done...