United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hi, I was just wondering if anyone out there has had a child with brachial plexus injury have a surgery to correct it. and if so did the injury seem to have a effect on them walking? My 11 month and 3 week daughter is only pulling herself up to her knees, and the therapist are worried about the fact that she is not putting weight into her legs, they said that for certain if she is not standing on her own in a month to a month and a half that she would then have to see another therapist. I'm very worried about this, I feel like when it rains it pours. I almost find myself asking what did we do to deserve all this? any responses would be great.
thanks,
Bonnie

My son had two surgeries before he walked at 16 1/2 months old(I THINK) it may have been 15 1/2 months. But then he just got up and walked, I am sorry ....RAN and hasn't stopped since !~!!!!
GAYLE mom of BRANDON 9 ROBPI

I believe there is a "Late walking" Topic Thread on the "Adults and Teens with OBPI" Message Board also. There were a number of us Adults that had a delayed walking milestone.

Everyone is welcome to read and post questions on any of the Message Boards.

HUgs,
Carolyn J
LOBPI/69


Message was edited by: Carolyn J

There is a type of exam that was suggested for our daughter when she was little and very delayed in many areas - it is called a Neuro Psych exam. Basically your child sees a Developmental Pediatrician or a number of specialists and they determine what all the diagnoses are.

Delays may or may not be because of the bpi but may just be an outcome of a traumatic birth.

Best of luck,
francine

I think children walk when they are ready.
My mother said I was walking and climbing at 9 months.
I fell a lot be kept trying.

All of my own children were walking alone and sure footed by the time they were 9 month old.

I never thought being obpi could delay walking. I always thought it was a matter of strength and desire.

Kath robpi/adult

I would not worry much. Some kids are just late walkers. My sisters nephew didnt walk until 16 months and he is just fine. My nephew walked at about 12 months (biologically, they are brothers, but my sister adopted my nephew so they are cousins) there can be such a huge difference in children! And both these boys are developmentally fine, no injuries or problems of any sort.

Relax, you daughter will walk when she is ready! Take this time to encourage hands and knees, this should help her joints develop.

Hugs,
Amy 20 years old ROBPI from MN

Bonnie:
I agree that kids walk when they are ready. My oldest walked at 15 months and only because she was bribed with M&Ms! I think she would STILL be holding my hand and she is almost 15 years old now!!!

The one thing this injury did to Juliana, in terms of walking, was effect her gait. Although she pulled up and walked with in "normal limits" (she walked at a year), she did not walk properly. She walked like a crab. She put almost no weight on her left (affected side) leg. She stood, while playing, on her right foot and her left big toe. Coupled with how her arm looked then (internally rotated, bent at the elbow, bent at the wrist), she looked like she had cp. We had a great physical therapist who played all kinds of fun games with her to encourage walking on two feet. It took years. Her running gait was off until she was at least 6 years old. Her balance was awful.

And yes, she had primary at 4.5 months, mod quad at 14.5 months and bls at 39 months. We did therapy 4-5 days a week.

Just fast forward a few years: she is now 8 years old. She plays tennis twice a week, she rides a two-wheeler, plays all sorts of sports, swims...all, pretty much, with one hand and a helper hand.

good luck,
claudia

Hi Bonnie

my daughter Cassidy walked late...she was eighteen months. Cassidy also had primary surgery. Cassidy's therapists were also worried about her not bearing weight on her legs,so they gave me exercises to do with her to help her quads to get stronger. Cassidy scooted on her bum from ten months on and had built up her hamstrings but not her quads. The exercises that they had me do were squats...have your daughter sit on your knee and say "one two three up" guide her up and then "one two three down" and help her down eventually she will know what the game is and do it herself. We did this at least three times a day. I found that it really helped Cassidy.
I felt the same way you did when they told me that they were concerned about her legs....I thought great now this injury has affected her legs too...what else???
and it seems like there is an exercise for everything but it really did help...
hope this helps a little
Dawn, mom to Cassidy 20 months ROBPI

My son is 1yr and 8mths and he was walking before his first birthday. Nothing stops that kid and he has a Global BP. But his OT really works with him on doing a lot of things for himself.

My daughter walked after her first birthday. We wanted her to crawl crawl crawl anyway for weight bearing. We did do excercises such as playing on her knees or make sure she is weight bearing evenly on both legs when she did walk. Ours fixed her uninjured arm bent at the elbow to her body in order to stabilize.

Hang in there!