I am Here!!!!!!!!!

Forum for parents of injured who are seeking information from other parents or people living with the injury. All welcome
Miss Elizabeth
Posts: 6
Joined: Mon Jan 22, 2007 8:18 pm

I am Here!!!!!!!!!

Post by Miss Elizabeth »

Hello to my Moms friends! I have decided that I want to be a part of this message board. I think my mom has been talking to some of you for about 7 years now. I have been through a lot, but my Mom says that you were all a big help to her. My mom has spent many hours on this message board. I wonder why? Anyway, here is my question. I am shy to ask, but Mom said that you all know who I am, so that I do not need to be shy. My question to all of you is the following...I think I will have to start shaving my armpits soon, but I need to know how you do that with 1 hand. I really have a hard time lifting my right arm very high...then I have a hard time getting my right hand to the left armpit...Do you understand what I am asking...I am anxious to get your answers. Thank you...Miss Elizabeth
Judy-T
Posts: 557
Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2001 11:59 am
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: Right arm OBPI One surgery at age 40 Ulnar nerve retransposition
Location: Florida

Re: I am Here!!!!!!!!!

Post by Judy-T »

Welcome Elizabeth!
This is how I shave my bpi arm pit, I prop the bpi elbow against the wall or a towel rack to hold it up. Then I can shave the arm pit..My good arm I shave it with my good hand.Kind of curled the wrist under to shave it. Hope this helps, if you have any other questions, just ask away....Judy
Miss Elizabeth
Posts: 6
Joined: Mon Jan 22, 2007 8:18 pm

Re: I am Here!!!!!!!!!

Post by Miss Elizabeth »

Hi Madame Judy, Thanks for your quick response. Can I ask you another question? How do I get my injured right hand to shave under my left arm? My right hand can't get that far. Thanks...Elizabeth
kamren
Posts: 262
Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2004 7:19 am

Re: I am Here!!!!!!!!!

Post by kamren »

I am LOBPI. I, too, prop my left arm up on the wall and shave it with my right hand. My right side I shave with my right hand too. Just bend your arm at the elbow like a monkey and your hand will be in about the right position to shave its own arm.
User avatar
marieke
Posts: 1627
Joined: Fri Apr 01, 2005 6:00 pm
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.
Location: Montreal, Qc, Canada
Contact:

Re: I am Here!!!!!!!!!

Post by marieke »

Hi Miss E!
Did your mom show you the project I did on Power Point for school? I had a pic of you in there that your mom sent me.

OK, for shaving... here is what I used to do before I got strong enough (same way I did pony tails and dry and brush my hair at the same time too).
I sit on my bed on prop my BPI arm up on my knee (like I sit with my knee bent up with my foot on the bed), then am able to get it to where I need it to be OR I sit cross legged on the bed/floor and hold razor with my BPI arm and shave the other side that way, because you can lean in that way and shave.

Does this help?
Marieke :) (31, LOBPI)
http://nurse-to-be08.blogspot.com/

ps: don't be shy around us, we all know who you are (all good things) and we all ask each other questions too!
Marieke Dufresne RN
34, LOBPI
http://nurse-to-be08.blogspot.com
njbirk
Posts: 1806
Joined: Wed Oct 24, 2001 10:09 pm

Re: I am Here!!!!!!!!!

Post by njbirk »

Hello there Miss Elizabeth. I am glad to see you posting on your own. Welcome!

I don't have anything to add to what the others have said. I too do the 'monkey' position to shave under the unaffected arm. But I wanted to say hi and to encourage you to keep posting!

Nancy Birk
UBPN President
User avatar
F-Litz
Posts: 970
Joined: Fri May 26, 2006 6:53 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: LOBPI, LTBPI at age 6.5, Sensory Issues, CP, Diaphragm Weakness, Aspberger's
Location: Ambler, PA

Re: I am Here!!!!!!!!!

Post by F-Litz »

Hi Miss Elizabeth! I'm so glad to see you here. We miss you a lot and we're wondering when you are coming to Philadelphia again? I'm so glad you're going to learn how to do this because when Maia needs to shave then you can teach her! Please let us know how it works out.
katep
Posts: 1240
Joined: Mon Mar 29, 2004 3:20 pm

Re: I am Here!!!!!!!!!

Post by katep »

I have absolutely nothing helpful or useful to say but wanted to say WELCOME anyway!

Kate
User avatar
hope16_05
Posts: 1670
Joined: Tue Jul 01, 2003 11:33 am
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
Location: Minnesota
Contact:

Re: I am Here!!!!!!!!!

Post by hope16_05 »

Miss Elizabeth! Its great to see you posting!!! You dont have to be shy, we ask interesting questions all the time. Especially if you look on the adult board, we have lots of crazy stuff there ;)

For shaving, I prop my right arm on the shower wall and shave that one then I do the "monkey" to shave my left. For me shaving my left armpit with my right arm would be dangerous, I would have cuts all over the place, so it looks pretty interesting but I do it with my left hand. Much safer that way.

If you have any more questions, ask away, we are here to help each other out!

Hugs,
Amy 19 ROBPI from MN
Amy 28 years old ROBPI from MN
Carolyn J
Posts: 3424
Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2004 1:22 pm
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.
Location: Tacoma WA
Contact:

Re: I am Here!!!!!!!!!

Post by Carolyn J »

Hello Elizabeth,
Welcome to the Boards and PLEASE continue to ask us anything you want. FYI, I too, do the monkey position on my good side, it isn't always perfect but good enough (depending on if it is a new razor...they're the best kind to use..& disposable "cheapies".Good luck, Elizabeth.

Have your Mom get you the book "One-handed in a Two- handed World" by Tommye-Karen Mayer. There are fabulous
"How To's" in there. Have your Mom ask your local Library to get a copy for you to borrow & see if you like the ideas in there before she buys it. I do!

HUGS,
Carolyn J
LOBPI, 68 & Proud of it! :)


Message was edited by: Carolyn J
Carolyn J
Adult LOBPI
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