United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hello everyone. I am hoping someone can help me. My daughter is not a true bp case, but has nerve and muscle damage to her arm due to a blood clot at birth. She is treated by bp doctors and OT & PT specialists. They all recommend I get her a 1/2 lb wrist weight to help prevent the shortening of the arm. Does anyone know where I can find something like this to fit a 16 month old? Thanks so much, Torrie

I think that if you don't find them, you could easily make them from socks, rice and velcro. Weigh the rice and put it in your little ones sock. Measure the wrist and cut the sock down to be that wide plus a little more for overlap. And then sew some velcro on both sides.

If you're handy with the sewing machine, use the same idea - sew a small tube, fill with rice and sew it closed and use velcro for closure.

What about asking your OT or PT? They probably have a better resource. I know my daughter wore very light weights that were filled with sand while in aquatic therapy at a rehabilitation center, so you could always contact a local rehabilitation center as well to ask.

Tanya in NY
Amber's Mom, ROBPI, 3 1/2 years

Hi! I believe I got them for my daughter when she was an infant by Sammons Preston, the link I believe is listed under resources. I am not 100% sure but I think that is were I got them...My daughter is now 9!! They were good weights because they were 1/2 a pound and slipped right on the wrist. Good luck!

In my opinion wrist weights are not appropriate, all they'll do is exercise the muscles that weren't damaged, especially as your child is not beyond the typical neural healing time of three years. You have to be patient, writing from experience. The best thing you can do is massage and directed PT: both focus on those muscles that are not getting a good signal from the spinal chord.

Your child is only 16 months old, when my daughter was 16 months old I was asking the same questions. But now I have my experience with her, and I have learned that nature is really magical. After three years and allow for another year for the intellectual development of your child, think about the mod quad if the function is not there. I did exactly that and my child is not exactly 100%, but I would never hestiate to place her in any activity. BTW, since the mod quad she has had significant growth spurts and I can see absolutely dimished deformity that I saw before the mod quad.

My daughter's doctor was/is Dr. Kozin at Shriners, but I think that most BPI Mod Quad surgeons are working from the same page, doing the same procedure. But I must say that I generally prefer Dr. Kozin, I just enjoy his manner, his dedication, the fact that he is a family man, that his staff is very harmonious....

I just had the same conversation with our OT. My daughter has had some recovery on her own but when she is just standing, her BPI arm sits in the crooked position. When I asked her OT about this she said when she gets older we would probably look into wrist weights. My daughter too is 16 months. Just thought I'd let you know our experience. Good Luck!!

Tara

Thank you for your advice. Could you tell me what Mod quad surgery is? I have never heard of this.

Thanks.