United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hello everyone. Sorry this is long - I didn't know sites like this existed.

I know I have a right side brachial plexus injury from birth. I am told that my arm was paralysed for about 12 months but that I could use my hand. I am left handed as a result. I have never had any substantive treatment or physiotherapy. I have limited rotational movement, my elbow sticks out if I carry anything and I cannot even begin to turn my hand flat. I have been told that I am about 30% down on my right side (whatever that means) I had always assumed that my condition was a) static and b) there was nothing that could be done about it. However, in the last year or so (I am 29) I have felt myself to be much more awkward, I often find myself supporting or carrying my arm and I suffer from frequent numbness in two of my fingers - my little one and my ring finger and pain in my shoulder.

So my questions are - is it possible that my current problems are linked to my original injury and if so is there anything I can do about it?

Thanks

I am in England by the way.

hey Rebecca and welcome .I just wanted to point you in the right direction. These guys over here on the traumatic board had accidents that effected their brachial plexus. You will get more action from the obstetrical board or the general board. Us with little children tend to gab a bit more and the info for traumatic and birth injuries are a bit different.

Hey Court maybe you can move this to the general for her or the obpi board.

Welcome again and I am sure you will find some help here.

Ooops - thank you for letting me know..

Hi Stargazer
Whereabouts in England are you? There are a few bpi specialist centres, the main ones are Professor Birch in Stanmore, London and Simon Kay in Leeds. You need a referral to one of these from your GP, I'm sure there will be more you can do for your injury. There is a support group for UK birth injuries too, run by Karen Hillyer, I'll mail her a link to your post.
Take care
Jen NZ

Hi Stargazer
as jenny said, I am in the Uk and we have quite a large support group with lots of adult members - if you want to e mail me your contact info, I will be happy to send you some of our information and see if we can help;
please e mail me at; info@erbspalsygroup.com
bye for now
Karen