United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hi! I am a novice on this site, but search for advise. I read the different terminology and the different explaintions. So, I thought I would explain my characteristics, and see how they compare to the norm.

I have BP upper/lower in the left arm. 4 out of the 5 nerves are completely dead, with the other damaged badly. I can move the shoulder, with much pain. I don't do it regularly (as an exercise) anymore, due to the extremity of the pain. I am , howerver, attempting to move the shoulder and hands a bit more out of sure necessity, not wanting to "lose" them. I can move the elbow without any pain. My wrist, too, is somewhat limited, but is not a source of pain.

My hand, conversely is the MAIN source of pain. I was able to do early flexion, after alot of real hard work, but then swelled to 2 1/2 times the norm. Since that point, my hand has been barely moveable, with overwelming pain, just to move a finger. It's more like an unmovable board now, with fingers that are bending slightly the opposite way. It swells excessively and demands that I wear TENS pads throughout the entire day, and sometimes night, for the morphine cannot control the pain. My hand is my biggest problem, with my shoulder being secondary. I still, after 7 months, wear a sling-pillowed brace, giving a support to the shoulder, and a "soft" place to rest my hand. Now, I understand that I sound like a baby, but have had operations on both knees and my back, and have built up quite a tolerence for pain.

Have others expienced the same, or is the shoulder ALWAYS their main main?

My BP pain is in the neck and left shoulder. I recently learned to stop using the left arm and I do feel somewhat better. The pain is always with me but its less when I don't use the arm. I've tried the hard drugs but as you say they don't help all that much and you end up using the arm when you shouldn't. (then taking more pain killers) I was told that since it took 6 years to get the right diagnosis it was too late for any surgical help. It's been real hard for me to go and not use the arm but it makes sense - for me anyway. Recently I stopped driving my car. I hope its the last thing I have to give up.
I wish you the best with your recovery. Bob

Rob.

Has your Dr ever recommended that you wear a lymphadema glove &/or sleeve? I had to wear one because my hand swelled so bad. Sounds to me like you need to wear one. It helps to get the fluid to circulate back up through the lymph system. I wore mine the whole 3 years until I had my arm amputated. I hope things get better for you.

Susie Kaye

Rob,
My injury is not as severe as yours. But most of my pain is in my hand. I do have pain in other areas, but usually just shooting nerve pains, not constant pain. THe pain in my hand is more of a constant burning pain with some nerve pain and crushing pains.

I hope that you get better.

Michelle

Michelle,
What do you do for your strickly painful hand because that is where my pain is as well.
Brandon

My pain is in the hand as well, that is the ONLY place I get pain. I bang on it with a hard object, whatever I can find (always hope a hammer is not around) or squeeze the hell out of it untill my fingers are blue! Both of those really help! Also... I have a compression gloeve, with finges, that I wear at night! It helps a ton! SOmetimes I wear it during that day but only at home! Its not the prettiest thing so I will not wear it out! Just a nother thing to think about.

COurt

i wear a thingie at night. i call him "sir pick a lot." it goes from below my shoulder and includes my fingers, putting them in a position of function.

the first week i had it, i forgot i had it on and tried to rub my eye with my hand. let me tell you i got quite the surprise.

it has helped with some of my morning pain. i don't wake up with tightly clawed and stiff fingers anymore

Brandon,
My pain isn't that bad these days, so I don't do anything besides put up with it! When it's really bad I take an ultracet, but I try not to. When I was worse, I took medicine and with the burning I noticed the more I used it the better off it felt. The nerve pains are another story, that stops me down a bit until they go away and the crushing pains too. Those actually make me feel like my hand has gone weak and I can't do anything. I hope some of the other ideas posted help you.
Michelle

Susie,

The neurologist I was seeing just told me to elevate the hand (some 4 months ago). It was an occupational therapist that DID give me a glove to reduce the edemia, which I use from time to time now. I'm getting more aggressive in moving the fingers, and I sometimes use the glove right afterwards.

Rob

Michelle,

How are YOU dealing with the stiffness and pain? Are you moving it a bunch, then dealing with the swelling?

Rob