United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hey, Carrie's lat transfer went well and we're in the middle of p/t re-eduating her muscles to work properly. We've been using a bio-feedback unit to show her when she is activating her bicep, but she is having trouble contracting her bicep. She's primarily doing isometric contractions to keep the muscle alive. I figure it may be too early to expect any movement since her surgery was on Aug 16 and she just got out of the brace a couple of weeks ago, but I wanted to ask some of the people who had a lat transfer what to expect and if there were any special tactics they used to re-educate their bicep to work properly. P/T is going well, but it's kinda new with them also. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated as her future seems like it may be a little brighter.

Thanks, Dick

Sorry Dick I cant help with this one but I do wish you guys the best of luck! Keep us posted on how she gets on with it!

COurt

C'mon everyone, there's got to be someone out there that has had this procedure done. Please help. We're continuing p/t, but Carrie's still unable to activate her new bicep. We've been using a Russian e-stim unit that does contract the muscle, but she's got to do it herself. There's got to be a way.

C-ya, Dick

Hi Dick
Doesn't your doctor recommend which exercises Carrie should be doing? What does s/he normally recommend? This is a case where the team who did the surgery should be helping you out.
Sorry I can't be of more help but I think the surgeon involved should be advising here. They surely don't just do the job then leave you to it this soon afterwards?
Exciting that the muscle's firing anyway, hope things progress more soon :0)

We have an appt with Carrie's surgeon next Wednesday and will get with him again on further suggestions on exercises/stretches/ etc. They should have their therapists available. I agree, they wouldn't just do the job and then let us find out ourselves how to reeducate her muscles. It hasn't been that long anyway. Talking with someone who had the muscle transfer would be helpful though.

Dick

Carrie's progressing with P/T. She's seeing a new therapist in Shiner and he has some good ideas on getting some response from her new bicep but it's taking alot of compensation from other muscles. I guess the people who have had the lat-bicep muscle transfer have quit reading or posting on this site. No replies from the UK site either.

Till next time, Dick

Dick, wish I Could be of assistance but I have not had that procedure, no muscle work yet! Keep us updated though!!

COurt

Maybe John had this done - I don't know what you mean by the "lat" part of the description. John did have muscle transfers, from his legs - the gracilis muscles were moved to give him elbow flexion & also hand grip. For each of those procedures, it took around six months to see results. I hadn't responded earlier because the name of the procedure is unfamiliar.

John also worked with biofeedback but it's tricky to isolate the brain signals. For awhile there, his brain was sending signals to two muscles. Oddly enough, the biofeedback unit was the one thing insurance wouldn't cover...

Ellen

Ellen I believe that Dick is refering to LATISIMIS transfer.... the large muscle that runs down your back, there are 2... some doctors are transfering that for biceps, I believe it is a bit newer procedure that gracilis, not positive though... hope that helps you too!

COurt

Dick,

I can't find much info about this either...also, I'm not sure now if any of the UK group have had this procedure.

I was under the impression that they didn't use part of the LAT for use as a bicep unless C5 and C6 were still functional? I might have got this completely wrong tho.

I am at the moment sorting thru all the research stuff that I'ved saved on my 'puter ready for a re-format and re-load of WINXP (don't ask!) so if I come across the article I'll post a link here.

All the best to you and Carrie!

Lizzy B