Hi Everyone!
My name is Jamie and I'm new to this site. I have Erbs Palsy resulting from traumatic birth. It's been 27 years now and I'm doing very well! It's nice to read the messages on this board and know that there are people out there who understand how it is to live with this challenge. My latest problem is facial numbness. It has only happened a few times for just a few minutes each time, but it makes me concerned. I usually have a lot of tightness in my left shoulder/neck, so I am hoping that it is just a pinched nerve. I consulted my doctor and my physical therapist and they both think that it's just a pinched nerve, but I am having an MRI just to rule out other issues (that's all I need!) Has anyone else experienced this before? It's on my left side, the same side as my BPI. PLEASE let me know if you have heard of this complication from a BPI....hopefully you can put my mind at ease! Thanks so much!
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: 28 years old with a right obstetrical brachial plexus injury. 5 surgeries to date with pretty decent results. Last surgery resolved years of pain in my right arm however, I am beginning my journey with overuse in my left arm
Jamie,
I have not experienced the numbness on my face but am currently having problems with that in my back/shoulder region. We are thinking this is caused because the muscles get very tight and compress surface nerves. In my case my doctor thinks the muscle tightness is because my scapula is unstable. Ultrasound and deep tissue massage seems to help for temporary relief. I had treatments 7 times in 10 days between the end of December and the middle of January and the relief lasted up until a couple weeks ago. Hope you are able to find out what is causeing this. Good luck!
Amy 19 ROBPI from MN
Yes, I sometimes get numbness on my OBPI side. To the point I have had Bell's Palsy, the whole left side of my face didn't work for about a week or so. It never occured to me that it might be connected.
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: LOBPI. I am 77 yrs old and never had a name for my injuries until 2004 when I found UBPN at age 66.
My injuries are: LOBPI on upper body and Cerebrael Palsy on the lower left extremities. The only intervention I've had is a tendon transplant from my left leg to my left foot to enable flexing t age 24 in 1962. Before that, my foot would freeze without notice on the side when wearing heels AND I always did wear them at work "to fit in" I also stuttered until around age 18-19...just outgrew it...no therapy for it. Also suffered from very very low self esteem; severe Depression and Anxiety attacks started at menopause. I stuffed emotions and over-compensated in every thing I did to "fit in" and be "invisible". My injuries were Never addressed or talked about until age 66. I am a late bloomer!!!!!
I welcome any and all questions about "My Journey". There is NO SUCH THING AS A DUMB QUESTION. Sharing helps to Heal. HUGS do too.
Unfortunately I have had bouts of it too. Not necessarily to the extreme of a major Bells paralysis but I have had it just like you say, for a few seconds or minutes. You are not alone.
Me too. Sometimes even my lower lip goes numb. I mentioned it to the Dr. and he brushed it off. I think it's related to nerve damage. I'm just not brave enough to go through the EMG's Pat LOBPI
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: I am ROBPI, global injury, Horner's Syndrome. No surgery but PT started at 2 weeks old under the direction of New York Hospital. I wore a brace 24/7 for the first 11 months of my life. I've never let my injury be used as an excuse not to do something. I've approach all things, in life, as a challenge. I approach anything new wondering if I can do it. I tried so many things I might never have tried, if I were not obpi. Being OBPI has made me strong, creative, more determined and persistent. I believe that being obpi has given me a very strong sense of humor and compassion for others.
To everyone who experiences facial numbness, nerves that supply sensation to your face comes from one(or two, not sure) of your cranial nerves. Cranial nerves origonate either in your brainstem or your actual brain and are not part of the brachial plexus. While its very probable that facial numbess is a byproduct of your BPI I would ask my doc to rule out cranial nerve issues too just in case.
Becky
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: I am ROBPI, global injury, Horner's Syndrome. No surgery but PT started at 2 weeks old under the direction of New York Hospital. I wore a brace 24/7 for the first 11 months of my life. I've never let my injury be used as an excuse not to do something. I've approach all things, in life, as a challenge. I approach anything new wondering if I can do it. I tried so many things I might never have tried, if I were not obpi. Being OBPI has made me strong, creative, more determined and persistent. I believe that being obpi has given me a very strong sense of humor and compassion for others.
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: LOBPI no external rotation against gravity, can only go to 90 degree fwd flexion, no hand-to-mouth 1 surgery at age 14 (latissimus dorsi transfer). In 2004, at age 28 I was struck with Transverse Myelitis which paralyzed me from the chest down. I recovered movement to my right leg, but need a KAFO to walk on my left leg. I became an RN in 2008.
Kath you are right, but in Jamie's case it is something new. So to be on the safe side I too would suggest to get it checked out. Take it from me, someone who has now been through a whole new list of neuro problems not related to BPI...
Marieke
