United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hi, I'm Denise and my son is David (lil red). I just got hooked up to aol. My son is no longer in theraphy, they released him. He went for 16 months and he is now going to be 2 years old next month. Never had a MRI, or seen a BP Specialist, has been told by the ped. that everything is getting better and go home and be happy. I do know now, that my son should have had a MRI and seen a specialist, instead of going along with his ped. doc. We are now going to insist on seeing a specialist at UCDavis. Does anyone know if our insurance will not let us go to Davis, how can we see a BP Specialist? How can we get our doctor more informed so we can look into SSI for little Red? Is anyone talking with lawyers and what is the outcome? Do you know anyone we can talk to, that will help us? Thank you and God Bless You! Denise

call your insurance company. if its an HMO you will have to get a recomidation from your PED.SSI is very hard to get with this injury. don't quote me but most of us have been denied. we have been fighting ssi for almost 2 years for Jade. she has a very severe injuery with 2 surgereies and we weher denied.

Denise,
The Shriners Hospital in Sacramento, which is right next to the uc davis med center, has a large patient base for brachial plexus pts. Dr Michelle James sees these pts usually and they do have a support group, lunch meeting once each month. The next mtg isn't until Jan. because of the holidays.

My daughter sees her as well as a rehab dr at the med center and an orthopeadic dr at UC Davis. Our pediatric neurologist is in the Sutter system. His name is Dr Asaikar. We love him. His approach is conservative, but he has supported us in all our decisions and is always loving and knowledgable about brachial plexus injuries.

We live in Yuba City and have seen lots of docs in the Sacramento area. Email me at collinsguide@jps.net if you have any questions. Jana

hi I will give your name to some CA moms in our email support group- ummm, you definately missed out on getting alot of information and Id be pissed too- but if its any consolation, many dont bother to take the advise of the surgeons that are referred to as specialists on this board anyways ...at least untiill later, like about now- so maybe you are on a divine timeplan of some kind and the MRIs and EMGs and all those things arent 100% anyways so hang in there- thats not to say I dont think you should get one- but just to remember, My son will be 3 in January and I am going to start harping again to have a scan done to examine the joint formation in his glenoidhumeral area...whatever you call it-anyways...
yes there are many people that talk to attys, and there are a few good one around that people like on this site that are usually active too- there are some less pop ones too, we didnt go that route but enough people did that you should get some feedback- some people are very succewssful, others not so much- I can say that in order to be successful in litigation(unfortunately) surgery is usuaLLy a factor...and altho it would be suicide for me to say litigation leads to surgery, I can say that those in litigation are MUCH more likely to have babies with multiple surgeries, the more (physical)recovery your child has, it seems like the less likely you will be successful in litigation, sad but true
blessings,

Hi Denise,

Is CCS currently providing therapy services to your son? If not then that would be something to look into.
They have provided therapy services for my daughter for the past four years.

I go to a BPI Specialist in the LA area. His name is Mark Hoffer at the LA Orthopedic Hospital. I have nothing but good things to say about him, he performed a muscle/tendon transfer on my daughter one year ago and we seen nothing but progress (slowly) since then.

I know he sees alot of patients in Northern CA, Bakerfield/Sacramento Area I think, but I also know many parents that drive to LA to see him (those that I've met in his office). I also know that when he saw a freind of mines son who had a BPI at birth he didn't charge her or the insurance for the evaluation (he recovered 100% by six weeks old, very lucky).

Let me know if you have any questions.

Take Care
Dawn