United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hi all, I owe you an update! I had my EMG on Monday and it really went great! I was so nervous to have it because the one I had at 6 years old was absolutely miserable! I remember it hurting so much, I was scared to have this one. So originally I had asked my roommate to come with me and she was unable to get out of her classes so I had to brave it alone.

So I think the worst part was the drive! They started off with a nerve conduction study and taped some electrodes to different parts of my hand then sent little shocks through different areas of my arm. Then came the needle part of the test, what I was least looking forward to! It actually went extremely well and hardly hurt at all! I only felt about half the pokes and of the muscles he poked only one had no innervation at all. This does mean that there are not more than one muscle that has no innervation as he didnt test every muscle of the entire arm. But I do know for sure that my pronator teres has no innervation.
This is going to make getting pronation naturally much much harder but I am still hopeful that I can find a way.

I also had had a chat with my doctor and he gave me a prescription for the myotrac biofeedback unit. I am going to be ordering very soon! First I am waiting to hear back from my OT at home to see if she know how to get it covered by my insurance. If not I am going to but it anyway but it would be so much easier to have it covered by insurance.

So thats my update for now!
Hugs,
Amy 20 years old ROBPI from MN

Hi Amy
I'm so glad your emg went well. I know I had to have one and was freaked out for the month before the appointment I even kept canceling but when I finally did it I was like wow not that bad I guess I was just being a big baby. Are you getting a single channel unit or dual channel biofeed back machine???? frankie tryed both and we went for the dual channel it gives more info but we got a pathways unit not myotrac because there was almost a $1000 price difference if you want the info I can send it to you. Mare

Amy,

Congratulations on surviving your EMG. I have only had one and I tell ya it wasn't fun at all. It is interesting to see how it works though. That's exciting too that you have a prescription for the myotrac. I sure hope your insurance will cover it for you.

How's school going? I sure hope you keep up the great work. *HUGS*
Rachel C.

Way to go, Amy! Your sharing may make it bearable for even me, someday if or when somebody does research on all of us aduilts who are certainly willing to be part of a study on secondary injuries/medical issues as OBPI's age.

Let us know how your exams went for you this week too,OK?

((((HUGS))))
Carolyn J

I've actually never had one... i dont think... maybe when i was a baby... i havent see an OT in almost 5 years... and i think im losing what i'd worked for... any suggestions?

Mel, 20, LOBPI, RI

Hey Mel,
If you think you are losing function I would for sure get back in contact with your OT! I really didnt need the EMG it is not really helpful to my doctor but he ordered it for me because I wanted to know how bad my injury actually is. So it will be helpful to me and my OT but not to my dr.

If you want one and have insurance that will cover things like that then get one. But for rsure get back intouch with the PT/OT and see what you can do!
Good luck!
Amy 20 years old ROBPI from MN

IDK what to even do, i dont have time at school to even breathe with work and all- and there is nobody here that i am comfortable working with... i went to a childrens hospital until i was 15 for therepy, then "got dismissed" from my Dr, who was an orthopedist, b/c "he couldn't do anything else for me" so i havent see anyone else since, and wouldn't know where to start!
~Mel, 20, LOBPI

Hey Mel,
Check out this page and see if there is a bpi doc anywhere close to you. http://ubpn.org/medicalresources/us-bpi.html

Otherwise you could do what I did and not see a bpi specialist but a doc who is willing to learn or at least trust your research. My doc is actually a hand specialist and I got lucky, I first saw him through Shriners but since I am 20 I am too old for Shriners so I have been able to follow him to Mayo in Rochester, MN where he also works. Thats always an option! There are options out there for us even after turning 18. It just takes so research!
I understand about the time and working factor, as I am a full time college student currently applying to the occupational therapy program and I am trying to get yet another job, right now one is very part time (only on my breaks in which I will be at home) and the other is only a few hours a week. So I need to get a third job that offers more hours! Bills to pay, people to see, places to go. Need the money so I need more jobs. But even so I still have to make time to take care of me!

So take a few seconds and look up some docs and therapists, make some phone calls and see who you think you would be comfortable seeing, and dont give up!

Good luck!
Amy