United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

hello everyone.
im so happy i found this site.......and im also saddned by all of your pain......
i am new to this ive been diagnosis with a brachial plexus injury "which i told my doc i had for along time".......my pain stared out as merely a soar shoulder as i had injured it long ago........then approximatley two months latter i noticed my tricep had atropied........but basicaly i had no pain..........then about 4 months latter after having a wonderfull summer the pain started.....at first i could deal with it and i kept working for another 4 months..then unbearable pain started and my doc put me off work.....at which time my whole arm started waisting away.........then it became bi-lateral.......a mri was done which according to them came back normal....as i treid to esplain to the hospital there radiologist probably didnt even know what he was looking at.......at first i was on percocet.....then about a month latter my doctor out me on fentanly patches, which were heaven sent as far as pain managment......ive been on the patch about 2 months now and recently diagnosied with inflamation of the brachail plexus so this neuraologist says......
i can move my elbows and all of my fingers altho my left shoulder is somewhat limted as in a frozen shoulder........i have atropied quite a bit in both arms, they are both very weak, however everythng still moves with some pain...........
not sure what im writing i guess i just wanted everyones opinion???? the nuero doc i saw said the inflamatio shoudld go away in 1 to 2 yrs.......but i honestly doubt he has treated to many people for this problem........
does anyone ahve any thoughts about my out come????

opps sorry everyone i am a lousy typist............but any of your replies would be greatly appreciatted........ i live in ypsilanti michigan about 7 miles from the U of M......i just dont know where to turn at this point they"doctor" recomend therapy............i rarely sleep more then two hours at a time i do have moments of clarity , and other times im just a walking zombie!!!
thank you

I have and been told that the Mayo Clinic is one of the best for treating a BPI. http://www.mayoclinic.org/contact/

Good luck!!

If there is any way possible I would recommend you go to the Mayo Clinc in MN and talk with the specialists. Neurosurgeons are not all as familiar with a BP problem/injury.
Sue

Ok, don't know where my post went, lol. So here it is again. If at all possible I would recommend seeing the specialists at Mayo Clinic in MN. Not all neurosurgeons are familiar with BP injuries/problems.
Sue

thanks sue for ur input.........i do believe i have a bpi but i think its quite mild there is also some long thorasic nerve involvement according to the emg i had recently done............
i honestly beleive my case is mild compared to most on this site......i do have quite a bit of muscle atrophy in both arms.......altho the first 6 monts it only effected one side but inthe last two months the right side has dramatically caught up with the left side..........i think my case involves a stretched bp i had a friend step on my back , instead of going to a chiropractor it is my beleive this is when my problem started.....it has been about a yr now since this happend that last two months were to worst pain ive exsperienced.........it seem tho my pain is decreasng aqnd im gonna try removing the fantanly "morphine" patch to see where my pain level actually is......i has a pinched superscapular nerve once this pain tho is way worse then that.........my arms have atropied so much even a 2 lb weight feels like 50 lbs now...............thanks anyone for there input.......its nice to have someone to talk to about this..............it seems most doctors have no idea whats going on as i susgested to them for months what was wrong with me.................thank you all and i wish u all a speedy recovery...........
PS...cant wait for summer i wont to be back out on my boat so bad , but i think this yr skiing it out of the question for me.................gary

Have you been seeing an OT or PT. Range of motion and excercizes should help stop the atrophy and you should gain strength in the arms with the muscles you have. Yes, 2lb weight is too much for my son in some positions. He can move it in some 0 gavity positions, which the team said will help strengthen the muscles to be able to move against gravity.
Sue