United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I remember reading long ago about the injured arm being more prone to sunburn and/or turning pink when it is hot. We slather our son's arm with zinc-based sunscreen and he still seems to turn really pink in the sun, but not necessarily seems to get sunburned (not pink later). I feel like it's too hot to put long sleeves on him. Any other suggestions? I think someone said a cold compress is good? Thanks.

The sympathetic nerves can also be affected by this injury resulting in either over sweating or lack of sweating on the bpi side. It is usually associated with damage to T1. This can also cause redness in the bpi arm if the arm gets overheated and can't sweat.

Usually it shows up as a blotchy kind of redness, at least that is what it does for me.

Cold compresses do help, but usually just cooling off for a while will cause the redness to go away.

Nancy Birk
UBPN President

I noticed the same thing with my son just the other day and his doctors said there isn't much you can do but cool off. It was easy for him to say. Try to get a 3 yr old to come inside to cool off, yeah right. He doesn't complain that it get hot in the summer but he does complain it get real cold in the winter. Sorry I couldn't help but we do experience the same thing with Brayden.
Ashley

Hi everyone,
I experience everything Nancy posted too.
Have a good day, all.
Hugs all around & Camp 2007 or Bust!,
Carlyn J
Adult LOBPI

Carson's bpi arm is always pinker than the other. I just put as much sun screen as possible and re-apply often. I don't think that there is much to be done about it besides buying a long-sleeved sun shirt (i saw a kid at the water park with one) - Im not sure where to get it or what exactly its called but you it's not too hot to wear, it like a built in sun protector.

The Dr. said to put sunscreen on all of the time. In fact, all of his Doctors told me that Kyle's arm would burn easily. When Kyle was eight it was opening day for baseball it was spring and an overcast day. I didn't even think that the sun could get through the clouds. At night his arm was burnt purple. Not red, purple. I took him to his Dr. and he said that I could have caused permanent damage. I felt horrible. The purple eventually went away and I think that he's ok now, but I have been crazy about using sun screen ever since.

My robpi arm gets burned more than the rest of me.
The biggest problem, for me, was that I could'nt feel the burn until it was so bad.
I never seemed to notice that the top of my arm and hand did not have the same feeling as my left arm... duh!

There were no sun screens available when I was a child.
When I was a young adult most sunscreens were to attract the sun and get a better tan... LOL..
That was NEVER going to happen for me.

I was not allowed to play outside without long sleeves.
I had to play in the shade and/or on our covered porch, my swing was in the garage.
I'm a redhead and have VERY fair skin so the sun and sunburn has always been a big problem for me.
I wear Coppertone Water babies all year long!
45 is the magic number for me.
If sunscreen has Paba in it I get a very bad rash.
I have all sorts of sun damage even in places never exposed to the sun.
You can get sunburn through your clothing.

My husband, children and grandchildren get tan.
My grandchildren are coated with 45 all the time to prevent damage.
I look at how beautiful their golden skin looks and get really jealous... LOL...
They are light like me but wow what great tans.

Enjoy the sun BUT PLEASE MAKE SURE TO CONSTANTLY RE APPLY THE LOTION TO THE BPI ARMS.
The lack of sensation can cause a problem for us and most children do not realize that they feel things differently on obpi side...

Kath (adult/robpi)

Hi to all!

It's been a long time since I've posted. This site is a blessing, it reminds me that we're not alone. My son Shane (ROBPI) is four now.
As for the sun, he has never had a problem with his right arm burning more than the other. We put the same amount of sun screen on both arms!


Thanks.................Dave