United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

i am trying an experiment.....i am not able to use my dominant arm today..it is kind of a dare...this computer thing is not quite working too well have not figured out how to shift for capitals yet!!! that was easy...my neck is starting to ache as is my wrist from compensation. this injury and the effects of it stink !!!

i will update later
gayle mom of brandon 11 robpi

Gayle, I use the
"Caps Lock" key...it takes longer but recently i have begun to use all lower case on these boards and on facebook....friends understand,i think.

Carolyn J

I'm so proud of you Gayle! You said you were going to do it and YOU ARE! I could never find anyone willing to take the challenge.

I told you my PT told me years ago people would probably give up after an hour never mind 24 hours.

Kath robpi/adult

Gayle,
CONGRATULATIONS for doing this "experiment". I'd sure love to read a note about how you did this feat. ....Whenever it's convenient for you....
Hugs,
Carolyn J

Okay, so I did this EXPERIMENT to say the least I have to admit, that this is difficult at best. Mind you I only did it for six hours, after I already had taken my bra off...lol So I didn't get to experience that. But by the night was over my neck and shoulders were killing me from compensating. Being on the computer was horrible, I could only type one handed, and getting the pizza out of the oven was a treat for sure. It was hard to balance with one arm. By the end of the night I was exausted and could not wait to be two armed again. Now, as a foot note I would like to add that I had nothing, no range so use of the second hand at all. My son had it all, but for all of you with BPI, wow you guys are amazing !!! And I mean that with all my heart. Carolyn "DARED" me and I did it, but I cannot day that I would take that dare again :0) !!! That was tough but gave me a new sense of what my son went through when he did not have use of both arms !!!
Gayle
mom to Brandon 11 ROPBI
who laughed the whole time I struggled....lol

Gayle
You needed to wear the bra!!! LOL... You lasted longer than I expected. I don't think that even with partial use most people would last and hour.

I wonder who else did it. I think it would help the kids if parents tried it. It would help them understand how frustrated the kids get. They are way to young to face such difficult challenges and often seem to melt down. I know there are times when I get really frustrated...

Last night as I got ready to go out to dinner, I had a sensory issue that just about drove me crazy... I wish I was still little enough to stamp my feet... LOL.

Thanks for the report! You did a great job!

Kath robpi/adult

Kath, I couldn't wear the bra, I would not have been able to get it off, I know that much, and besides...MY CHILD does not have to learn that !!! LOL

GAYL

Gayle,
THANK YOU!!! You are the first person that I have heard of taking this challenge. I challenged over 60 people to try for a day at more but even an hour and not one reply. I did however hear of one person watching the new videos on how a bpi happens.

The sad part to me was that I challenged my OT classmates and faculty and not one would take an hour to live the experience of a client. Really sad to me! How can we possibly even begin to understand out clients if we are not willing to walk a day in their shoes?

So thank you so very much for sharing your experience and really trying very hard to see what your son had to deal with. I am very proud of you!

Would you mind if I used your words in a project? I want to make a new poster board and share a non injured perspective.

Thanks again,
Amy 22 years old ROBPI from MN

Amy, Sure go right ahead. It was actually kind of cool to see what he goes through. -REally, I think I went extreme because Brandon has alot of ROM over head, the whole nine yards, they only thing he cannot do at all is way behind that back......other than that, he does everything. BUT I did feel the stress of compensation, tht was enough to put me over the edge.....trying to do things and having to think about how to get it done, the best part was the PIZZA and my baby boy laughing at me struggle....lol
GAYLE

GAYLE, I AM SOOOOO PROUD of you for taking KATH's and MY DARE to do your "experiment"!!!!! I love yuou a BUNCH!!!!

Amy, yes, it's soooo sad when the "Pros" don't want to learn in the "Hands on" approach...BUT YOU are going to keep "at it" requesting, daring your fellow OT's as longas you are in Grad School, eh??/u]

Carolyn J
LOBPI/adult