United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Had triple bypass surgery in Mid-November and suffered bpi in right arm. Everyone at the hospital assured me that the injury would anoying but would heal in 4-6 months. It's three months and the pain seems to be moving into my wrist and arm. Nobody told me how to treat it at home. I have to work so I'm sure I'm hurting the nerves. I went to a neurologist who said the damage was my fault not the surgeon and my family physician doesn't seem to be much help except to give me small dosage of Amitriptyline (which doesn't help the pain). I really appreciate a place I can at least sound off about my frustrations. Any input would be nice. Thanks

Yikes! Sorry to hear about your injury.

Did the doctor ever tell you how you got the injury during the surgery or what type it was? Were the nerves cut, stretched, etc?

I had a cervical rib resection where my nerves were cut which is how my injury occurred. My doctor was upfront with me about my injury as a neurosurgeon was called in for a consult during my surgery and then I had a repair about two weeks later by an orthopedic/hand surgeon that specialized in microsurgery.

I'm really sorry about your injury. I would definitely try to figure out what type of injury you have and then go to a doctor that specializes in brachial plexus injuries though. My family doctor knows about my injury, but honestly I only see the surgeon that did my repair and my occupational therapists for problems because they are the only people that are really knowledgeable about my BPI. Try to request your surgical records if you can if the doctors won't tell you anything - that might tell you what injury occurred. although even those can be altered to an extent.

hello, please forgive my spelling because i am just getting home from a six by pass surgery and i am a little out out it. i just had a six by pass at the age of 46. when i awoke in the hospital my chest didnt feel that bad, my arm where they took out my artery didnt feel that bad nor did my leg, but i had a very bad pain in my arms??? i told the nurses for 10 days and everyone couldnt understand, come to find out after my own invesigation and talking to my visiting nurses i found out by having a six by pass i was streched open for 7 hours damaging my brachial plexus. no doubt, i have no pain in my body except my arms wake me up in the middle of the night with very bad pain, i am going to my primary care doctor friday, is ther any thing i can do? will this pain go away. thanks smitty