United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hi all

I was wondering if anyone has ever lost strength/grip in their affected arm? This started when doctor limited activity when I injured my back and has gotten worse. I went to GP Monday he said something about my flexor in my thumb because it has started turning in my palm. Sent me to chiro. for a splint, he gave me a wrist & forearm splint. GP also gave me a referral to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville, Tn. He says he found a brachial specialists there(Dr. Micheal Cooper). I have tried to look on the internet to see his background. All I can find out is that he is an assistant professor in neurology. I see nothing related to brachial plexus injuries. He wants $300.00 up front. I already had one neuro. tell me there was nothing he could do for me. $300.00 could start PT GP said that I will/do need. I just don't know what to do???? In the meantime, working unaffected arm double time trying to keep affected arm from freezing up.
Any suggestions or information would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

Tracy

Tracy,
sorry the post is so late. When my affected arm started to shrink and paralyze itself more it was difficult for me to hold onto things. I would go to work and drop things left and right. The best thing for you to do is try doing physical therapy even if it means doing it on your own. My PT recommended that I tried to squeeze a stress ball or a tennis ball. Yes, it does hurt, and no I couldn't do it to the full extreme. However, any type of movement or exercise you do will help you out.
As far as the doctor telling you there isn't anything more you can do, this may be the case, just remember, YOU can find more information and get a second opinion as well. Had it not been for my research and discovering the UBPN I too wouldn't be able to use my arm as much as I can. I thank each and every person every day for helping me out. Hope this helps. Stay positive!!

Hi Tracey my name is Brandon 31 with TRBPI, my arm is totally paralyzed from the neck down. I would be happy with any sort of improvement, that would mean i could begin PT and then on the road to recovery. However if your neouro says that he can do nothing that usually means he doesn't know what to do. I would definitely get a second or third opinion if need be. It took me 4 months to find one. He is at the university of Washington. There wasn't a Dr. in oregon, idaho, hawaii, Alaska. The closest one was at Stanford university but my insurance would'nt pay for that. that is when I found Dr. Kliot at UofW. Could'nt afford to go to Mayo or anything like that.
Anyhoo Good Luck SIT (stay in touch) you can call me or e-mail 360 852-1286 Brandonhubbard_3@msn.com

Thanks to both of you for sharing info. It does help to know I am not the only one going through this or has gone through this at one point in time. It just gets very frustrating at times. I agree with staying positive!!!! I have started PT at home. My mom has started doing the exercises we used to do when I was a child. I am trying to give my unaffected arm a break, my biggest fear is that it will give out from overcompensation and how will I wipe my butt!!! It's the little things you know!!! You are right the PT is painful. But no pain no gain right!!!! The UBPN has been wonderful. There is so much info. from our older and wiser obpi adults that has encouraged me to research and prevent further damage to myself due to this injury. I am going to doctor Oct. 11th, I am armed with many ?'s this time and many issues of Outreach. I will not let this doctor tell me what I am going through is not related to my birth injury. Again many thanks to you guys for posting. I will keep you posted as well.

Staying positive!!!!
Tracy

Hi Tracy!

I'm one of the older (maybe not wiser) ROBPI's. LOL
I am 50 and have lived with this injury all of my life. Believe me, I know what you mean by over-compensation with your unaffected arm. I could be the poster person for it!
Currently, I am experiencing a lot of pain in my neck and right shoulder because of the way I move my OBPI arm. I also have a lot of tendonitis in my left hand, wrist and elbow. I wish I would have been told to do PT long ago; maybe that would have alleviated some of the pain that I'm experiencing today. Keep working to strengthen your OBPI arm. It may be painful @ first, but in the long run, you'll be doing your unaffected arm a great favor!
As far as losing strength in my OBPI arm, I can relate to that more as I get older. I don't have much manual dexterity in it. I drop things without even feeling them slip out of my hand. My right arm has also weakened quite a bit.
I am checking into having the Mod Quad Surgery done to help pull my arm back where it belongs and (hopefully) help me gain more strength. I'm told this may help get rid of some of the pain.
Good Luck to you! E-mail me anytime if I can be of any help. This Website is a real God-Send!

Cyndi

Tracy
I'm glad we could help you out a bit. Any type of activity you do, strength wise will help you out. I get frustrated because it's a pain in the neck (literally) when I do the exercises. However, it helps out the affected arm tremendously. Keep up the good work and let me know if I can help out.

Hi Rachel Brandon,and Cyndi
Sorry I haven't replied my computer had a nasty virus and has been in the shop for a while. Thank you for the encouragement!! I had to change my user name because I couldn't remember my password. I am getting kind of nervous about my doctor visit next week. I just don't know what to expect?? I have been told by so many that there is no pain related to this injury but as my new user name states I am Full of Faith!! That and this website has truly managed to get me through the worst of times. I am still doing ROM exercises with my moms help. I am still wearing the splint to keep my thumb from turning into my palm. Also I have started tutoring 2 days a week(1 hour a day) at my youngest sons school. I am just grateful to be out of the house. It was really getting old doing nothing!!!! I am taking baby steps, but at least they are going forward!!! All for now. Just wanted to give you guys a quick update. LOL

Tracy

Hi Tracy,
I am sooo glad that you are Full of Faith, as Faith is what has gotten me thru thus far with absolutely no help until I found UBPN in April 2004. At Camp we adults were not too surprised to find that alot of us thought we were the only ones with this injury until finding UBPN.
Also my left OBPI hand was getting pretty contracted with thumb going tight into my hand. I found that holding a soft plyable ball,& I have several of different textures, really helped. I call my left hand the "iron claw" because once it gets a grip on something it's very hard to pry it loose. I never let it near my hair as I've lost good clumps trying to pry it loose. Since I've started holding soft balls in my left hand I've stopped the contracture and minimized pain, especially when my wrist locks up. Also when I'm in the warm pool dragging the left hand thru the water really feels good and the palm stays open & relieves tension and pain very well.Oh yea, when I forget my ball I just fold up something to keep it from clenching tight. At my age it is difficult to spread my fingers out flat execept when I'm in the pool. The water excercizes I do for 20 minutes has strengthened my affected left side.
God bless you.
hugs,
Carolyn J
LOBPI,age 67 & proud of it!

Hi Carolyn
Glad to hear from you. I tried using a ball and it would just roll out of my hand,LOL,so my aunt got me a small stuffed squishy teddy bear. After my mom does ROM and massages joints one by one from shoulder all the way down to each individual finger, I squeeze that little bear and then I stick him in between my fingers and leave him there for about 5 minutes and alternate. I worried about my fingers spreading apart being in that splint all the time, so that is why I started doing that. I know it is going to take time, and some days are better than others. This has been a true test of my Faith and I can say that it has really brought my family closer than it has ever been. My belief is that everything happens for a reason! Sometimes we don't know or don't understand what it is or why it is happening to us. Before all of this happened I never met anyone with this injury. Well, of course, I started researching because of what I was going through with pain and losing strength. In the last month I have by "chance" met 3 people in my community that have this "rare" birth injury that did not have a clue where to find information about either problems they are having now or could possibly be facing as they get older. So yes God has Blessed me more than I could ever imagine with the power to share knowledge of what I have learned not only from his word but from this website as well.

Hugs to you also!!!!
Tracy

Comming in real late here. I've always had pretty good use of my arm but I know since I had my twins I have lost a lot of strength in it. Things I could do relatively easily when the twins were first born I can barely do now. I've also been experiencing a lot of pain in association of over use of both arms. I'm always amazed at learning the new issues that arrise due to having OBPI. Like you my drs. say there isn't anything to be done. I'm still trying to find one that will help me. I really hope you have luck with the new doctor. It's great that you are starting your own pt at home and your mom helps you. I hope you get some answers.