United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hello,

On July 9, my stepfather suffered a horrible fall, in which he suffered C1 and C2 vertebrae fractures, a traumatic brain injury, 4 rib fractures (1,2,3,12 on the left), a fractured left scapula, and a collapsed lung. After lifesaving treatments and 17 days in ICU, he's been in a regular hospital bed slowly recovering. He's 71, but prior to the accident he worked out regularly, and was in better shape than most folks half his age.

Since the accident, he's not been able to move his left side except in response to painful stimuli (pokes, prods, pinches). The doctors have almost entirely ruled out spinal cord injuries, he had surgery to fuse his C1 and C2, and the brain injury may or may not be affecting his left side.

Today, he had an 'EMG' - not sure exactly what this is, but apparently it was determined that he has some sort of "Brachial Plexus Trunk Injury" - and that the nerves CAN come back, but they can take a very long time to heal. Since I'm not able to talk to the doctors myself, and find it difficult to proxy questions through my mother, I'm not really sure what the results really mean.

He's not been able to speak very much, or comprehendably, since the accident (this is likely due to his brain injury), but does answer with nods and smiles and puckers up to kiss my mom.

I'm just posting to see if there are any kindred spirits out there - is there anyone who's had a similar type of TBPI who would be willing to share their recovery experiences? Or family?

Thanks in advance,

Ryan

Ryan,
Sorry to hear of this terrible fall.

Our son Dustin had similar injuries from a car accident. He did not have the broken back. However his head injury sounds very similar in that the bruising to the brain acted very much like a stroke to his body/muscles. After waking from his coma he was not able to do much other than wiggle his toes and fingers a bit. It was several weeks before he was able to make much movement with his arm and legs (I am thinking like 5-6). As the bruising healed his movements came back very uncoordinated. With much therapy he was eventually able to learn to walk and talk. His right hand, good hand, is still somewhat slow and uncoordinated. His left arm has the BPI so movement there is very limited in gravity. Hopefully this will be the case with your stepfathers brain injury. But, as they say, each one is different and it is impossible to predict the outcome.

An EMG is a test where they stick little needles into muscles and nerves then they can see if there is any activity. This helps to tell if the nerves and muscles are talking to each other. It will show what impulses are getting through. Although this test is helpful it is not 100% accurate. Depending on the severity of the injury nerves can "come back". Nerves will heal at approximately 1" per month. So, depending on the injury it can take several months to years. Dustin is nearly 3yrs post accident and we are still seeing improvements. The thing they did tell us is that althought you may get function back it is unlikely it will be 100%. And again the "come back" will depend on whether the nerves are stretched or torn.

The hospital should be doing regular therapies with him. PT, OT and speech therapy from the sounds of his injuries. When he is able I think it would be good for him to see a BPI specialist. Sometimes there are things that can be done. But, unless you see a specialist in this area you will most likely be working with drs that are not familiar with this injury other than to tell you what it is. There are listings if you click on the resources link at the top of this page.

Good luck. You have found the right place for support and knowledge as we have all been there. Don't hesitate to ask questions. Hopefully we can give you some insight.
Sue

Hi Ryan, glad to see your a Cubs fan .

An ENG is where they put needles in your arm and send electrical signals through the arm to see if the nerves are working. They start at the bottom of the arm in the hand and slowly work their up to the spinal cord up by the neck. This allows them to tell how bad the injury is and whats effected.

You need to find out if the nerves are torn or just stretched, this will be the difference in weather he gets use of it back, or will have limited use. Mine was a tear, so I got nothing back, but from what I'm told, if it's just stretched it could take up to a year to get use back, sometimes longer. Coming here was a good step, I just found this place recently myself, but my injury was 11 years ago, seems to be alot of good people on here with good info.

Also you should find out if he's a candidate for nerve surgury, because the earlier they do it, the better the odds are of getting some use back. Typically you want to get this done within the first 9 months.

Also one other thing, if you are in the Chicago area you should get him into R.I.C(Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago), it's a great place and is the #1 rehab in the country, alot of good docs there. It's right next to Northwestern on Lake Shore Dr.
-Mike

Hey Mike
where do you live?

I live in a town in the North West suburbs of Chicago called Carol Stream, you may not know it, but were close to Wheaton & Bloomingdale, so if you know where they are, I'm not too far from them.

So how about you, where you from here in IL?

I am not far at all from you!!!
I'm north of you in Woodstock! An hour away or so???
I know someone that lived in Woodstock that was paramedic in Wheaton.

Gosh, sorry Cubs fans-We are Sox fans but I wont hold it against you. Hee hee
Kath
Woodstock, IL-Home of the Movie "Ground Hog Day"

Never actually been to Woodstock, not even really sure exactly where it is, but I was in a rehab at Alexian Brothers Hospital once and there were like 3 people who were there from Woodstock.

-Mike

Woodstock is near the border of WI. Lake Geneva Wisconsin? We are about 20 minutes from there. I just passed that hospital two nights ago going to a Schaumburg Flyer game.
We are about an hour apart. Small world.