Is it the seatbelt?

Treatments, Rehabilitation, and Recovery
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ptrefam
Posts: 674
Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2006 5:19 pm

Is it the seatbelt?

Post by ptrefam »

I just got to thinking about Dustin's tbpi. I was wondering of the tbpi's that were caused in an auto accident were most of them left side? Is it the seatbelt that could be causing these?
Sue
jennyb
Posts: 1183
Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2001 5:24 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: January 1980 Yamaha RD200 vs 16 wheeler truck, result, 1 totally paralysed right arm. I was 21, now 54. I had no surgery, I don't regret this. Decided to totally ignore limitations (easily done aged 21) adapted very quickly to one handed life, got married, had 3 kids, worked- the effect of the injury on my life (once the pain stopped being constant) was minimal and now, aged 54, I very rarely even think of it, unless I bash it or it gets cold, then I wish I'd had it amputated :) Except for a steering knob on my car, I have no adaptations to help with life, mainly because I honestly don't think of myself as disabled and the only thing I can't do is peel potatoes, which is definitely a good thing.

Re: Is it the seatbelt?

Post by jennyb »

It might well be-tbpi's from motorcycles are often caused by the helmet which twists the neck/shoulder area awkwardly when the head hits the ground. But the fact is, if many of those bikers hadn't been wearing a helmet, they might not have a tbpi, but they might also be dead. The seatbelt may have caused the bpi, it's in the right place to do so, but then it also probably saved his life.
I've known a couple of people who got tbpi from airbags, smaller people can take the whole force in the head and neck instead of the chest, it's very dangerous. Many people don't realise that small adults or children should not sit in the front of a car with airbags.
Joy in FL
Posts: 357
Joined: Sun Nov 04, 2001 8:36 pm
Location: Georgia

Re: Is it the seatbelt?

Post by Joy in FL »

Mine was the seatbelt. It saved my life but caused the injury. A trade off I am will to accept! :-)
Joy in FL is now living in Georgia!
Left TBI on October 31, 1991
shaunnb

Re: Is it the seatbelt?

Post by shaunnb »

I think it well may be. The movement of your head away from your shoulder i think causes the brachial plexus injury. My left brachial plexus injury was definitely caused by my head hitting the ground on the left hand side of my helmet..the helmet has the scratches/dents to prove it...and my left shoulder pressed away from that. I am very glad for the protection that it provided though. Without it it is highly likely i would be dead. I guess it was not my time.
God bless

Shaun
Ripp
Posts: 24
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2008 3:16 pm

Re: Is it the seatbelt?

Post by Ripp »

My tbpi is also on the left. My seat belt held me in place solidly enough to break my collar bone and that broken bone damaged the nerves underneath. I know this from the severe abrasions left by the seat belt over the broken bone. However, my car flipped so many times that there's no way I'd have survived without the seat belt.
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