United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

The veins tend to be smaller and more fragile, so not easy to stick...
Marieke (31, LOBPI)

As far as I know our circulation is poor and one doctor told me the medication would not be properly absorbed.

Higher risk of infection in bpi arm and for some of us very painful.

I have never had blood pressure nor needles in my robpi.
As a child my doctor made it clear that I was never to let them use my right arm for any shots or blood tests.

Kath robpi/adult

Kissy
I was told that it was because of lack of circulation and a huge increase in risk of INFECTION !! I was also told that blood pressures are different an the BPI arm than in the good arm, but don't want to test that statement.

I posted on the General Board a few months ago, when Brandon went to the ER and they tried to take his blood pressure in his affected arm,I was pre occupied and didn't even notice , he stood up to them and said "NO, I have a Brachial Plexus Injury and you cannot take blood pressure in that arm." I was taken aback and so was the nurse, and then she told me, "WOW, he is absolutely right, I cannot do that in that arm, so we will switch arms, it is great that he knows how to stick up for himself" From my perspective, one less thing for me to worry about !!

Sorry, that went a little off topic, but you have to do what you have to do !!! GAYLE

Bumpimg up for Angie. :^)

HUgs,
Carolyn

So, what do we do in a bilateral case?!!!!! My daughter's injury affects BOTH arms.

I don't know really. We use to have adult/obpi posting who are bilateral but they don't seem to be around anymore.

I guess they could go to the legs...
I have such a high pain threshold but just put off having blood tests...
I am way over due for one just because I have used one arm for so long it's a major problem.
I have very small deep veins to begin with.

I think if a child has to have it in the legs that the legs should be alternated to prevent the problems I have with my unaffected arm.

I get all injections in my hip/butt.
I will not run the risk of my arm being sore for days because I need it to function.

I am sure one of our resident medical folks could answer this better than I can.

Kath robpi/adult

Mica, they can do IV's in the feet, but once the child is mobile they don't like to. BUT if she really can't have IV's in her hands/arms then they don't have a choice. I can have IV's in my LOBPI arm, but only have 2 veins that are ok there and it hurts more getting them in but once in it's not a problem.
Injections can always be done in the thigh or buttocks (buttocks only AFTER the child is walking though, as they need the muscle to be big enough to protect the sciatic nerve that runs under them). If she has enough muscle in her arms then she could potentially have injections there too, but for me it hurts in my LOBPI arm to have IM injections there...

Same with blood pressure, yes she can have it done on her arms, but it depends on her pain level (if any) and should be done on both sides to see if there is a big difference (everyone has one side that is lower, not just BPI's). It can also be done on the leg.

Every case is different, not everyone with BPI has the same level of injury... (as you know) so it's not a steadfast rule accross the board that it can't be done in the BPI arm (I know many will disagree with me so please DO NOT POST, I am fully aware..)

Marieke (31, LOBPI)

I have given blood regularly for the past 8 years (type O+, they like to see me) It just doesn't succeed in my injured arm. I have had two bad experiences lately where I had pain in my uninjured arm for a few days afterward, and so I declined this time. I'm sure there are other factors (skill of technician, my work/school activities) but it's too risky. Too bad for the blood bank. I was a really good bleeder.

Didn't know about blood pressure checks, and I alternate. I will have both arms done next time to see the difference.

Foremost for me it is pain. Taking my BP from that arm is unbearable. There has been two times that they were unable to even get a reading. Rarely can they get a pulse on the left side. So it causes more problems than it is worth.

I have allowed them to take blood from the left arm but it always causes problems when I do. So I always make sure all other avenues are exhausted before I allow blood to be drawn from that arm. There has only been one time that they had to go in the left hand for an IV.

I have an LOBPI and I practiced Phlebotomy and IV therapy.The biggest problem with drawing or sticking a BPI arm is the risk of serious Nerve injury to those nerves that have not been affected, Also the healing process on the affected arm is sometimes doubled or tripled due to the fact of decreased blood flow to that extremity, due to the atrophy in the muscles and tissues in the arm from the injury. Another reason why people feel they don't have " many" veins in their arm is mainly due to the muscles the veins rest in. The weaker the muscle the less anchoring the vein has causing it to move or "roll".An experienced IV tech knows how to get around that with little to no trauma to the patient, even with the affected arm. The pain mostly felt in drawing blood is the initial stick if they didn't get it immediately they should pull out and try again and not " fish" for the vein.