United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Sorry if this sounds wierd to anyone. I was involved in a rear end accident where a kid hit me at a stop sign. At the time of the accident I didn't think anything of it had some minor shoulder pain from what I thought was just from the way my arm was when this kid hit me. 2 weeks after the MVA I was crumpled up in pain to the point of my hubby taking me to the ER. I was told at the time I was bruised. After about a month went to see my GP who then sent me for testing EMG, xrays, mri the whole ball. Well the EMG doc told me right off the bat that I had a TBPI and that is why I had the numbness and loss of strength in my left arm and that I needed to see a NS so off to another doc after my GP referred me. This NS looks at my tests and tells me I needed to have my c5-c6-c7 fused that they were extremely out of whack (my medical term, lol), so I have surgery on Jan 09,09. After 6 hrs of surgery doc comes out and tell hubby that while in surgery they found a splinter off my c7 intruding on my spinal cord and that most likely the nerve damage was permanent if after I awoke I still had the numbness in my left arm and hand. Well I woke up and what do you know left hand was still useless. So now I am on muscles relaxers because the muscles in my neck spasm now. I have to wear a splint on my left hand to keep my fingers from curling up on me and locking in that position. I am just curious if anyone else is like me or am I alone. I read all these posts where eveyone is talking about complete paralysis or amputation and I can still move my shoulder just not lift things or hold things. I am a wife and mother so I do housework but have to use my eyes much more so I don't burn or cut myself. I have never met anyone with my injury. I live in a town with not much in the way of specialists or support groups. I would gladly welcome any advice or opinions. i just want to know if his is the way I am going to be for the rest of my life like the doc said that these feelings are pretty normal for just starting out with this. So sorry I rambled just have had alot on my mind about this lately.

Candy- no way does this sound weird. Actually every line I read pissed me off more and more. Not at you mind, but this plight which has befallen you is worse than the plauge. At least you died from that.
I guarantee the only good news you will receive here is that you have struck upon a goldmine of knowledge, support and best wishes. I can not begin to tell you how upsetting it is to me to read that you actually had back surgery and only after which you were correctly diagnosed. I hope I'm wrong on every point but I don't think so.
Other than of course this ubpn.org is a Godsend.
I hope after what you have already gone through that you have a speedy recovery. I believe it has happened before.
Take care, have patience and bear with us as we will you. Here, you are in good company.
My best Candy,
Scott

Candy
Vent all you want! It helps to vent where people understand and will give you good advice and much needed support.
I don't share your injury exactly because I was injured at birth by a doctor who pulled me out by my head. But I am bpi and full understand the frustrations you are facing now that you have this injury. I wish I could give you some answers about your possible recovery rate. '
I can't imagine how much trauma this has caused you and your family but I am glad that you are here and there are people here to help you through this time and help you adjust.

I'm also a mother and a grandmother I managed to have three children and still help with grandchildren... You will be able to do it... but don't push your self and please give your self some time to heal. You need to be patient with yourself most of all. Frustration is the constant companion of all bpi injured because our brains want to do what our body refuses to do. Cut your self some slack and don't try to be superwoman. You'll make it and get stronger as time goes by.

Thank you for all the advice so far. I know this is gonna be with me for the rest of my life, just right now I am trying to make my house more friendly to me so I don't have to depend on my hubby so much. That whole process is also frustrating me because where I live we don't have alot of places that offer specialty stuff for people with disabilities. I am also frustrated because I am seeing a change in the way my left arm and hand look compared to my right and that makes it a constant reminder. I am trying to live each day tot he fullest just some days are alot worse than others and to be honest this week has really sucked. I am not normally like this but right now I hurt more than ever and no matter what I do my left arm just doesn't want to do anything. I woke up this morning and it just hung there and of course I got upset so the cycle continues. If anyone has any suggestions on how to make my house easier for me so that way I can cook and clean and do the quote unquote normal stuff PLEASE let me know. I am new to this and want to make it so it is no big deal at home especially for my boys.

AMEN!! Everything Kath says is sooo true, Candy.
I am glad you found our UBPN FAmily of support and understanding. Venting is good.
Carolyn J
LOBPI/71 and proud of it.

Hi-Candy WELCOME I have left erbs at birth injury from the 50s I dove semis with simple lift enough to holed onto a 18 wheeler for years Maybe this might help you You say you do house work , I cook , clean,etc one handed for over 50 yrs. with erbs. Check to see if the theorist can give you a referral to be retrained to do your house work? its like vocational retraining. If this is possible ware you live If not try to find things to retry things you used to do 2 handed GO SLOW, try something small task if you can , but not long . Get a rubber ball to squeeze , try to cushion your arm with a pillows it helps the gravity on your shoulder. This is what I did over the years and I did like to abuse my erbs BIG Time to drive a semi for years. My erbs turned purple unloading my semi driving the semis around Chicago in blizzards . I think one arm it works and many times it does not. My arm never fell off I had worries about this to! Then I tried to find things that I could enjoyed, it was also a great way to stretch your limitation Maybe this helps If I say something hear it is because of my experience not what I think. Your Doctor left you with out a referral to a specialist in your area Get one, you could try here to by setting your town here.

Best wishes and trys Stay Strong

Tom

thank you all. I really do like hearing from everyone it makes me feel less alone.

Dear Candy,
I'm so sorry that this happened to you. I know how you feel. I wish I didn't have to rely so much on my husband as well. At first I was like you, I just wanted to be normal. But now as my two year anniversary of this injury is closing in, I am resolved to say that I now have a new normal. I too am worried about things not being normal for my 3, and 4 year old children. The best advice I ever recieved was ''even though you can't use your left arm/hand, pretend like you can'' yes I thought that this OT was bananas, but now I see that it was a way to trick my brain. My arm/ hand will never be the same, or look the same for that matter. The hardest part for me was dealing with the effects to my face from Horner's syndrome that occurs when you have avulsed nerve roots. As far as the house work goes, well I used to be a clean control freak my oh my how that has changed. The only way I do it is one day at a time and be careful not to do to much because of over use your uninjured makes it more suseptable to injury. There are things to help one handed people out there you have to search, and keep your eyes peeled at all times. Even things that aren't marketed as one handed. Dycem is awesome stuff, but expensive. I have found grippers in a pack of four at 99 cent only. I would really like to call or email you because I have so much more I would like to share with you. Please stay strong, you are an amazing person. Remember everyday that passes that you are still here is a victory. lejabot83@yahoo.com cell 623-337-2439
God Bless!
Sincerly,
Leah

Candy, god bless you and I wish you a speedy and miraculous recovery. My daughter has ROBPI like Kathy was mentioning but still struggles with everyday issues ( backpacks for school as an example ). I wish this damn injury was gone for all of you.

Lenni