United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Has anyone noticed changes in these areas since their injury:

Increased or decreased sweating in any specific area(s) consistently?

Blood pressure increase no matter what shape you’re in (top notch or couch potato)?

Any noticeable changes on the injured side’s face or eye? Dry or oily (slight film of oil)? Droopy eyelid? Decreased sweating?



My injured side’s (right) eye has been continually getting more and more irritated over the past year and a half by a very slight oily film that I need to wipe away through out the day. My optometrist has never seen this before and she’s a Professor at UCLA (which always ranks high on the annual top hospitals list). The only thing she could imagine is that it is related to my BPI and damage to the sympathetic nervous system. Possibly related to Horner's Syndrome.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horner's_syndrome
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sympathetic_nervous_system

So that got me thinking and I realized I've got a few things that could be a by product from that as well: high blood pressure, excessive sweating at injured side’s pectoral/chest area, and this filmy eye thing. The first two have been around since the accident, but the eye problem started around the same time as when I had a nerve block test for pain to the brachial plexus done a year and a half ago.

I've read that Horner’s Syndrome (damage to the eye and face) can be caused by nerve blocks, as well as BPI, and I never experienced this for the first three years post accident. Strange thing is that it's gotten progressively more irritating and frequent over the last 6 months.

I’m just curious if anyone out there has anything similar going on. Thanks for any feedback!

Christopher

I have the sweating problem, hyper-hydrosis, on my right side. Botox is amazing. My blood pressure for the first time in my life has been a bit out of control. I did a slight diet change and its back to normal.

Ill be interested in what you find!

Courtney

Hi Chris,

Might I suggest you do a search in the 'search forum' tab at the top of the page, type in some of the key words regarding your query i.e. eye, pupil, sweating etc. I know that sweating, contracted/dilated pupils, drooping eye lids, sight issues are quite common with BPI's, I myself have had one constantly contracted pupil since my accident....anyway do the search, it may give you some answers.

take care
Andrew

Hi Christopher, Scott here.
I used to have 120 over 80 every day, every night my whole lifetime. Since my accident it has been more like 110 over 60. Pretty consistently.
My eyeball problems only recently arose as a result of Bell's Palsy. This just happened to me because I didn't seem to have enough problems...lol!
See http://www.bellspalsy.ws/symptoms.htm
My sweating is uncontrollable to the point I must have a small hand towel almost everywhere I go. It is worse on my TBPI side mostly because I can not raise that arm.
I'm certain I haven't provided anything of use compared to all you provide for us Christopher but I thought I'd throw in my 2 cents.
Peace out,
Scott

Hi~~~
I'm with Courtney-I have had 4 treatments now of Botox. It is a wonderful thing. I am sure with a lot of work and several phone calls you can get your insurance to pay for it. Courtney and I both did! That would be one thing to cross off the list of horrible things that result from this injury-because losing the use of your arm and shoulder just isn't enough??? Right?
Good luck...........................
Kath
In Chicago

Would you please explain where and how botox is used?
I swear I put out more sweat than fluids in. Like Kath says eliminate one of the horrid side effects.
Scott