What can I do?

[Rescue Swimmer]

I am currently in the US Navy and hope to stay. I suffered a TBPI in Oct of 06. The doctors thought that it was a herniated disc and were treating me the same way they treat all of their patience, drug me and forget about me. I have recently had an EMG done by the neurologist (who refused to see me for the first 6 months) and he found the TBPI, however he was inept in the procedure spending more time looking in his reference book than actually sticking me. He told me that the damage was to my Lateral Pectoral and I would loose the muscle in the near future.

I don't believe he is correct because I am experiencing Parasthisia in my tricep, latizimus dorsi, and medial and lateral ulnar muscles which all branch off of the middle and lower branches of the BP. The MRI did not show damage so I am assuming that it was just a stretching of the nerve.

Anyway my question, What can I do if I don't know where the injury actually is? Is it safe to start working it up slowly? I have forced full ROM which is painful but I don't want to loose any ROM so I force it several times a day. I also don't want to cause more damage and end up getting kicked out of the Navy as I love what I do.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you for your time.

V/R
Jeremy

[Wendy Lee]

If you can get another EMG by a more qualified expert in the field while you're in Japan, that's what I would do. And then persue the fix in the private sector of doctors. If you find it's a stretch injury only, it will heal but there could be shortcomings in the healing. You may not get all of the strength back, due to scar tissue.

Not sure how you're situation is compared to mine, but I have found that putting ice on my shoulder hurts like H*LL! It's not that it gets so cold that it hurts, within moments of laying an ice pack on the area feels like fire. So heat is better to start out with to loosen the muscles and bring blood to the tissues. You really need to start out with slow and easy exercises and it is just to keep the other muscles from atrophying while the affected muscles heal. BTW, what sort of movement are you forcing that is so painful? That means a lot. I just had a test (EMG) on the Long Thoracic Nerve, which doesn't allow me to lift my arm up from the side over my head, and reaching out in front properly.
Wendy

[brandonsmom]

Jeremy,
M son was born with a brachial plexus injury, in a NAVAL hospital and I will tell you that you have to fight to get the treatment you need. Be firm....if you are married,your spouse may have to help fight for you as you don't want to get in too much trouble. If not get family !!! They may have to send you to the states for treatment. As much as you are "GOVERNMENT PROPERTY" they are alos responsible to help you repair the damage done !!!

They tried to amputate my son's arm when he was 2 wweks old, until I told them no way!!! This was all over a referral for OT/PT they didn't want him to go so they told me they had an appointment to amputate !!! NO WAY !!NOT MY SON !!!

Anyway, a little off topic, but good luck keep in touch and let us know how you are doing....I know alot of people have gone to MAYO here, it is a holiday weekend so not many people on the boards, but they will post soon, don't worry about that !!!

Gayle
Mom of Brandon ROBPI !!!! 8 1/2 year old

[Judy-T]

Jeremy,
Look on the medical resource page on this site. It has 2 doctors listed in Japan that specialize in bpi. You can read the questionaires about each doctor on this site.

[ptrefam]

Definately get to a BPI specialist. The sooner it is treated the better the outcome will be. As someone else stated get a more competent dr to perform an EMG. ROM is good. Also light excercise is good. But, it will be best to be seen by a dr knowledgable in TBPI as you don't want to do any more damage. Stretch has the best chance of recovery but even then they told us that it is rare it is 100%. That does depend on the severity of the injury. Good luck!! If it were me I would go to a dr outside the military even if it meant paying out of pocket.
Sue

[Rescue Swimmer]

Thank you all for your time and input. I have made myself a BP expert. I have researched extensively on the BP and took my findings to the Neurologist who agreed with my findings and the outcome looks fair. The Contrast MRI did not show a lesion or an avulsion so a stretch or compression is most likely. Now to become a Physical Therapist expert and learn how to recover safely without stretching it again and causing more scare tissue. As for seeing a real expert w/ out of pocket expenses, that is not possible right now as my daughters education is taking up all of my resources. A library card or access to the internet to do the research on my own is free, just time consuming.
Thank you all for the assistance and I don't really consider myself an "Expert" for the BP but I am able to draw it from memory and able to label the nerves and muscles they feed.

My main concern right now is to strengthen the surrounding muscles and reverse the minor atrophy that has started to set in. They are giving me another 6 months before my medical board on wether or not to kick me out or give me 6 more months to recover. So my challenge is to train...but not over train.

I have hope of being a Rescue Swimmer again and that in itself...is the primary healing agent for me. Thank you all again.

V/R
FC1(SW) Tucker
Search and Rescue
"What would you do so others may live?"