United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Does anyone know if it is OK to get a needle in the BP arm? My child has to get a series of 5 shots which need to be given in alternating arms. The first one was given in the unaffected arm. Should I insist the doctors not alternate? What other things should we not allow in the BP arm? Thank you.

I know the first couple of years it was ok for my daughter to get a shot in her affected arm. Last year, the shot got very swollen and infected. This year, we chose not to get her shot in her left arm, because we didn't want it to get infected again. She is 5. I think there is less blood circulation in the affected arm, so the medicine can't flow through the blood system as well. I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on tv...

I would ask if it can go in the thigh if it were me.

it's also found on ubpn.org/awareness click on birth injury

but I also think that because this is a special set of injections with a different purpose that you should get your bpi specialist involved because there may be some reason that you are unaware of that makes this important to be done this way.... have the two doctors talk about it.

good luck,
francine

also....EMLA might be helpful...this is a numbing cream that will numb the injection site... (it takes one hour to get numb so it's something you have to do in advance)

I always insist they go in the leg or not at all...you'd be surprised how quickly the nurses will accomodate you.
Every ped. we've had has said the leg is fine.
T.

All injections I've ever heard of are given either in muscle, subcutaneous tissue, or in the dermis. There are many, many sites for each of these. I'm still a couple semesters shy of my nursing degree, so I could be way off, but I'd say there are alternative sites. The injured arm should never be injected or assessed for blood pressure.

My son recently had his 5 year old check up and they wanted to do 4 shots, (2 in each arm) I talk to my dr and she agreed he should not be given any in the BPI arm. She gave me the two that were important and told me to come back for the other two. See if you can do that. I plan to go back in a month or so.