United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hello. This is my first time visiting this or any message board to discuss tbpi. I am somewhat at my wit's end. My husband (36) was involved in a motorcycle accident on 7/28/05 in which he was nearly killed. He had an aortic rupture (the priority repair to save his life), right brachial plexus injury, dissection of his carotid right artery, and lots of road rash. He has recovered from the surgery and the road rash has healed nicely. Unfortunately, his right arm is completed paralyzed from his shoulder down. He can shrug the shoulder but that's it. No other movement. He is constantly in excruciating pain. He had to have a titanium stent put in the carotid artery on 10/25/05. From 7/28/05 - 10/25/05 he was taking lovenox shots (bloodthinner) 2x daily in his stomach. After the surgery (10/25/05) he began taking plavix. We were told at that time he had to stay on the plavix for at least 3 months. His bpi surgery was scheduled for today. It has been cancelled and set back until he comes off the plavix and the aspirin he takes every day. Now, we have been told that he has to have a CTA in April and they may know more then. Studies are showing that patients coming off plavix too soon as having massive strokes (more good news, huh?) So it may take up to a year for him to have the surgery in order to prevent a massive stroke. At this time, we don't know if any or all nerves were avulsed from the spine or if they are torn apart. Does anyone know about umbilical cord stem cell nerve regeneration?

I cannot believe how much this accident changed our lives.

If you have any encouraging information, please feel free to contact me.

Thanks
Denise

Sorry to hear about your husbands accident. Generally if the nerves are intact there is hope for some recovery which can take a long time and is slow and one way of finding out if the nerves are intact is through an emg exam. Under the cure forum in the below mentioned site there is a lot of research going on about stem cells. adult and embryonic http://carecure.org/forum/index.php

The below was in the Daily Mail, I can't post the link it doesn't seem to be working but below is part of it.

Surgery hope for paralysed patients
British surgeons will attempt next year to make the first repairs of spinal cord nerves using a revolutionary new stem cell technique.
If successful, it could pave the way to helping paralysed patients walk again or restoring sight to the blind.
The procedure involves taking stem cells from the lining of the nose and using them to create a "bridge" between the severed ends of the nerves.
Until now it has not been possible to repair the major nerves running through the spinal cord or branching off from it.
Severing the spinal nerves can lead to permanent paralysis, as happened to Superman star Christopher Reeve who was injured in a riding accident in 1995.
Reeve, who died last year aged 52, campaigned for the kind of stem cell research that has led to the pioneering trial taking place in London.
About 10 patients are expected to undergo the procedure within the first three months of next year at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square.
All have suffered a type of injury most often seen in motorcycle accidents where nerves in the arm are pulled out of the spinal cord.
It causes numbness, pain, and partial loss of movement, and never heals.
Professor Geoffrey Raisman, from the Institute of Neurology, University College London, who developed the new technique and will lead the surgical team, said: "The injury occurs when a blow to the shoulder pulls nerve fibres out of the spinal cord - it's like pulling a plug out of a socket. We're trying to make the nerve fibres grow back in."

It has been a while since I wrote. I was wondering if anyone has heard anything new regarding treatment or repair of BPI.

Hi Denise
Hope your husband is continuing to recover from his accident, siunds like you have both been through the mill.
The stem cell work with tbpi is continuing in London, I don't know if any doctors in the USA are involved with this yet. Your best bet for good advice on tbpi is probably the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, or Dr Kline in New Orleans, they are the main tbpi specialists, although some of the doctors who specialise in obstetric injuries dabble in tbpi too. Have you have a firm diagnosis yet as to how severe the dame to the brachial plexus is? The degree of injury really decides what treatment is most likely to get results.

Take care Jen NZ :0)

I am so very sorry! That should never happen to enyone.I have been suffering for a year there is not a single painpill that works. Sorry Ive tried them all. Pain wont go away you just gotta get out there and find someone who will fix it and wants to fix it. ii takes along time though Don't take no for a answer.
BRABBITT

Denise, so sorry to read about your husband, I hope he can get some pain relief soon. About the plavix:

Why not stop the Plavix and put him back on Lovenox (by injection) or Heparin (by IV)? It will provide the anticoagulation necessary to have a procedure or operation.

Why take Plavix for only three months? Does the doctor feel the platelets won't clump after that, and your husband is safe from the possibility of a stroke? Some patients stay on Plavix or Coumadin indefinitely.

Please pursue this further with your doctor. Plavix is not reason enough to postpone other necessary procedures or treatments. Time is muscle!

Best wishes. Paula

I feel for you and your husband. This is a devistating injury and hope that your husband gets the best medical care available. Iam also 36 and have had a similar accident on 1-15-05.I had my surgery at the mayo clinic on 7-28-05 for my bpi injury and have had some great success so far but its a long road ahead of me. One positive is that you have found this website and their is alot of resources and help on this network. If you would like to talk to someone who has traveled down the path that you are going down now, you can call me at any time 914 557 8536. As so mny others did for me on this site, and now its my turn. Best wishes Brian

Like Jen mentioned you should seek out a bpi specialist. Most will look at your records and order tests to be done locally before you have to travel to them for further diagnoses. I went to Dr Teil at LSU and he looked over my file b4 he decided if he could help me.

Where do u live Brian and what is the time zone?
Also did u have the avulsion of nerve roots?
Thanks!