United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

in a nerve transfer, if the nerve used fits almost equally in size with the injured nerve, why can't the injered mussle return back to normal strength?

Marian,


With regard to a transfer, think of its' working much like a cable signal splitter for your television. The signal is coming full strength from the original source, but it is then split to run into two cables - or, in the case of a nerve transfer, two nerves.

Your picture (movement command) still comes through, but the strength of the signal is diminished by about half, so the quality of the picture (muscle contraction) is diminished.

This is only addressing the signal end of the muscle contraction. You will probably also be dealing with fiber and end plate death due to prolonged denervation.

I'm sorry you're dealing with this. I hope this helps.

thankyou, but one other thing can you exercise to become even stronger than only 50%

Marian,

You most certainly can strengthen your healthy, firing muscle fibers. The question becomes how many functional fibers do you have within your affected muscle(s). (do you have 25% of your muscle fibers working to their absolute fullest capacity to give that muscle its power, or do you have 50% of your fibers firing, but not to their best capacity?)

The human body is amazing in its ability to compensate and overcome. Don't ever give up on yourself!!!

Ever.