United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I have wondered this for a long time and have been afraid to ask due to it's ignorant nature! But, here goes, if you are a ROBPI, how do you know you were ever right handed to begin with? I have seen postings from ROBPI people who mention they were forced to be left handed due to the injury - but how do they know they were right handed to begin with? I completely don't get it.

LOL... I am with you on this one!
I am ROBPI and I started out writing left handed but the teachers (in the good old day) felt all children should write right handed.

I was forced to write with my hand even though it was partially paralyzed.
I have Horner's Syndrome dominate eye test does not work on me, I have tried it many times.
I also have a weak right leg so you can't say I am right or left footed... LOL..
My lack of function causes me to be left handed.
I have limited use of my right hand.
I could never feed myself, comb my hair, brush my teeth etc.
I have no supination so every function is dependent on my left hand.
Was I suppose to be left handed I don't know?
I think most people think that they may have lost their dominate hand.
Many people in my family are left handed.

Our brains are hardwire to be either left or right handed and I think today there is a scan.

I will never know what I was supposed to be but I write right handed and do everything else left handed.

I don't know why but I would love to find out if I was suppose to be left handed or right handed.


Kath ( adult/robpi)

We were sent to some specialist to find out if Emma would have been right handed or left handed (she is 9 yrs old, ROPBI; at the time she was 3 years old).
I forget the "type" of specialist he was and all the tests he did, but I do remember there was something different about the size of Emma's right pupil in her eye; also, she would/will lead with her right foot in everything..walking, running, kicking, etc.
He also took all kind of measurements on both of her arms and legs (up and down), etc.
It all determined that yes, she would have been right-hand dominant.
I know that this wasn't specific (too much time has passed) but I hope it was of some help.

Peggy

Peggy
I forget does Emma have Horner's?
My right eye is smaller and my pupil dilates slowly.
When they measure my entire right side it is smaller from mid-line to spine on the right side.
I was told they could not tell which foot I would lead with because my right leg is weaker.
I was told this year that my right foot does not flex properly.
This is such an interesting topic.
Kath (adult/robpi)

My Mother says that I was put on the floor and given some objects to reach for. I used my left hand and, of course, I was left handed!! I was not forced to write with my ROBPI but remember that the letters had to be slanted as if I was writing right handed.

John P.

yes, Kath, Emma has a Horner's; not as noticeable now as it was when she was a baby except for when she is over tired or sick.

Emma, too, grabbed for things with her left hand because she could not extend or grab with her right.

Peggy

Peg
I always grabbed with my left because I had no movement and no grip and could not extend my arm.

That's the good thing about Horner's it only really shows up when we are tired once we mature.

I wonder if all children who have bpi injury should be tested for dominate hand loss?
I wish I could remember what that test I heard of was.
I think it was a brain scan of some sort.

Kath (adult/robpi)

Emma didn't have a brain scan, but we went to some rehabilitation engineer (I think that's what he was--I'd have to find and go through all the files from all the "experts" we had to see before we went to trial.

We were there for a couple of hours and he had Emma do all sorts of things (it wasn't just for dominance, but also strength, posture, etc).

In the long run, she is left handed, but I suppose she may have some difficulty with the "hardwiring" for what would have been naturally right-dominant.

Peggy
(mom to Emma, 9 yrs-ROBPI)

See, here is one funny thing - although I am right handed naturally, and luckily LOBPI, when I skate board or snow board I do it goofy footed (right leading) as a left handed dominant person would - I am just a mess!

or ambidextrous!