United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I am a 37 year old male with ROBPI. I posted a few times back in 2004, gained a great deal of useful information from this site and proceeded with muscle/tendon transfers in mid 2004.

Operation was successful and I gained significant improvement, both functionally and aesthetically. Only negative was loss of internal rotation strength.

I also read a lot of information about overuse syndrome in good arm and think that at best, I am starting to experience some of these symptoms. I also have a history of motor neurone in the family so this is also concerning me as a possible outcome.

I do not have symptoms in any limb other than "good" arm. These symptoms include; numbness (locations on arm varies), general feeling of strength loss, a dull ache most of the time and every now and then I get mild tremors when either exerting myself or trying to undertake finer work - even signing my name on the odd occassion.

Questions: Has anyone else experienced similar issues in non-bpi side and was it attributed to overuse?? Was it temporary or more sinister issue? Did any medication, exercise or other help?

I would appreciate any feedback.

Glen

I have all of those symptoms in my non bpi side. I have carpel tunnel and ulnar nerve damage in it. It's from overuse.

Glen,

I'm pretty sure that there's a thread on the issue of overuse of our unaffected limbs. If I find it, I'll bump it up for you. Also, you can try searching for it by typing something like "overuse" in the "search" box.

Joanie

P.S. Sorry. I couldn't find what I was looking for, but I bumped up a lot of stuff. Hope you find something that helps.


Message was edited by: Joanie

Glen
I pretty much beat up my unaffected side.
I never realized that overuse was the problem until it was too late.
It seemed to me that all of a sudden the aches and pains and numbness and tingling in my unaffected left arm never healed.
I went to the doctor and she sent me for PT, Neurologist more PT and nothing changed.
I think the best way to preserve the comfort of our unaffected side it to slow and think before we move.

Many of us have the habit of reaching across our body to get something on the affected side.
Moving like that puts a great deal of stress on our spines and neck.
If we had more research on overuse and the way it affects the body of an OBPI perhaps we could find some OT's specializing in the prevention of secondary injuries.
I feel that OBPI's need for compensation, at such an early age, causes us to suffer from overuse in our teens and early twenties.
Most people don't have to face these issues until well into old age.
It seems as if most of the posts here most suffered from pain as well as secondary injuries very early in life.

We are so use to compensating we don't even think of the effects on our body.
We do what ever it takes to get any job completed independently.
You really should try talking to an OT to see if you can get some good instructions on body mechanics and movement.
Perhaps this type of therapy could prevent some secondary injuries that come with obpi.

I feel like the queen of secondary injuries.
Almost all of my problem with aging are related to OBPI and compensation.
I have spinal stenosis in my cervical and lumbar regions causing sciatica in both legs and that is due to tourquing my body to reach things and gait issues.
I have ostioarthritis in my hands and knees.
My breathing problems are related to my initial C4 injury.
All of these things combined make us suffer with symptoms of old age way before our time.
It all seems to be tied to misuse and over use of our bodies to compensate for our losses.
I also wonder how much the chronic pain many of us suffer from is connected to other problems like sleep issues.

OK.. I hate talking about this stuff because if makes me feel disabled... LOL...
Anyone who knows or lives with me know that I don't think of myself as disable.
Perhaps that has been my biggest problem??

Any questions please feel free to e-mail me or ask here.

Kath Robpi/adult

Dear Glen,
Kath gave a great summary of what most of us "Adults With..." do, and have done, to ourselves, especially with the "I-Can-Do It-Myself Syndrome". I have alot of similar medical issues as you have too.

HUGS all around,
Carolyn J
LOBPI/ age 68 & Proud of it!!