United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

So it has been a year since my injury and my repair. I am once again home for the holidays and it is bringing back a lot of memories of what I went through last year. I can't even believe last year, I was home from college, lying on the couch, sleeping and in pain almost constantly, unable to do most things on my own. The psychological effects this injury had on me were actually pretty big. The first month I was fine - I saw it as a challenge but I knew i could get through it. The nmy left arm started having really bad overuse and the pain got way worse in my right and I was so frustrated learning how to do things without my right arm and man o man, I was so depressed. Then college wasn't going my way either. I had to fight the nursing school to finish the program and wow, this year has been crazy. Through it all though, I kept going to occupational therapy and working at home to improve my function and I have. I look back and my movement last year, which was basically nothing - mainly just finger and wrist movements. And now I can move my shoulder and elbow and what not. Not full ROM or anything, but its a start!

The social support I recieved on here has been awesome. My family and friends were always there for me, but you all truly understood what I was going through. I had never heard of this injury before it happened to me, as I am sure most of you had not either. This site was a life saver to me. I seriosuly went through a bad depression with everything. I still struggle with it actually. But the support I have recieved here for my frustrations, dealing with mty school, life in general, doctors, and the horrific chronic pain has been wonderful. I am so thankful that I have had you all to turn to. I don't know you all in person, but one day I hope to meet you somehow someway.

I appologize for not being on here too much. I wish I could be on here more, to see your stories of praise and hear your frustrations as well. My computer crashed about two months ago...so I am living off of a netbook, which works but with the small keyboard typing hurts my hand after a while. and the screen is a bit small to really do anything.

Now I am planning on doing something... and it is a long term project I want to do a film project, documentary type thing about brachial plexus injuiries. both OBPI and TBPI. So I am still i nthe works of planning exactly hwo I want to do it. If anyonw has any ideas I gladly welcome them. Email or reply on here.

I hope you all have had a wonderful holiday and have a happy new year!!!

Hi. Scott here. Just a thought, I always seem to have them. One angle of your documentary could possibly turn some focus on the fact that after traumatic inuries have been dealt with, fractures, lacerations, dislocations and defigurement we as TBPI seem to always rise above those only to then discover, and on our own I might add, we are now expereincing a Brachial Plexus injury. We discover this not by the hand or the knowledge we hold the doctors to but by our own accord. We are the people who realize something is wrong. We are the patients who take the lead on this out of nessecity and we are the sufferers who seek out and pretty much demand aknowledgement and recognition that there is obviously another issue that has simply been overlooked. Unfortunately for some that time comes to late for evasive procedures. But it is still good to know however long has passed.
I don't know. I could be wrong. But I doubt it?
My best to you,
Scott
Oh yes, anything I can help you with such as the spesifics of how long they left me dangling before I discovered the life/lifestyle changer named UBPN.org. dont hesitate to contact me please?

No more spellcheck and no more proof reading. You get what you get. And I might add I don't know where you can check others personal email addresses when they offer us to contact them?