United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

The question of "is it or isn't it BPI" comes up every once in awhile, so I wanted to ask this question -

Did your child's arm "just lie there" or were they able to move it some within the first few weeks of birth? At what point did they start being able to use their hand or arm?

As for us, Joshua's arm was completely limp for the first couple of weeks and then he started turning inward. But while we were swaddling during that first month, for instance, his arm would just "flop" across his chest when I laid it there to wrap him up. At maybe a month old he would hold very light plastic spoons in his BPI hand; nothing heavier. It wasn't until he was at least 2 months old that he could hold his arm on his chest while laying on his back to play with his fingers.

Kate

Emma was completely paralyzed at birth (although the OB tried to tell me that she moved her figers at first --and then stopped?). She did get very little finger movement (grip--but weak) at about 2 months. Her thumb did not move or have any flexion and her strongest finger (and still is) is the ring finger.
At a pediatric visit at 3 months, when the doc used the tongue depresser (it made Emma mad) she had a jerk reaction from the shoulder (her mid to lower arm still not functioning).

She did get back finger flextion, wrist flextion and elbow flextion and deltoids, but basically all extention was missing at 9 months of age and we were still trying to seek out experts to help us (none available to us where we lived).

my amanda has finger movement and that's it. they called it shoulder dystocia and told us her arm movement would be totally normal in a few weeks.

NO ONE in the hospital made a big deal about it. they actually released us a day early! at 5 weeks old i finally put my foot down and requested to speak with some specialists. i was referred to dr desouza who was in shock to meet us for the first time at 5 weeks old. he worked for the same hospital and should have been notified about amanda's case and wasn't. i have absolutely no respect for my ob or the maternity ward anymore.

That was the same--finger movement only-- for my son, Joel (he's 21 months older than Emma). His function did return within a months time, however. He does have slight residual affects in supination and slight winging.

Peggy

At birth, Tyler could move from his wrist down. It sord of went inward and he made a little fist. He couldn't acutally grip anything, but was still able to move that much of it. It's amazing how far he has come!

My son had finger movement only and had a good grip - nothing else, though.

Lori

My daughter only had finger and wrist movement with a strong and equal grasp....otherwise....limp!

Shellie

When Amber was born, she had some wrist movement, although weakened, and she could move her fingers. She had a grasp, but it was weaker than her left arm. She has a right BPI. She really didn't start having shoulder movement until around 4 months of age, although we were told by the hospital that she would get better right away. We saw an orthopedist at about 2 weeks I believe and she said to follow up in a couple months I think it was (it's so hard to remember some of these dates now). I called her back in a short time and insisted that she be seen sooner as things were not progressing and her arm was turning in (internal rotation). She referred us to another orthopedic surgeon in Syracuse who laid it on the table finally that her arm would "never be right" as he said it. I broke down right in the office. Boy, was my son (Casey was 7 at the time) scared when Mom lost it in the doctor's office. My husband didn't know what to say at that point. Finally, we found a BPI specialist after starting therapy for Amber. She's had excellent recovery for function. There's a noticeable deficit for those with a keen eye since she compensates so well by using her uninjured arm. It's really noticeable when she has a shirt on that shows her scapula or when she's doing bilateral activities. She did have the anterior capsule release this past December for shoulder subluxation that was a wonderful surgery for her situation.

Tanya in NY
(Amber's Mom, 2 1/2 years, ROBPI)

Dani had only finger & wrist movement..nothing else for months. Kimba

When Trent (4 months old with ROBPI)was born he had finger and wrist movement. That was all. His arm and sholder were competely limp. Begining at about 6 weeks of age until now there has been noticable progress. He can now lift his arm to 90 degrees against gravity- not fully extended, and can get his hand to his mouth. His scapula is begining to wing a bit, and he has no supination. But hey- we take it day by day. He is doing great compared to where he started from.
Anita