United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

When my daughter takes a bath, her affected arm (only) becomes very, very red except for a white line that is all the way around her arm, just below the deltoid... Can anyone explain this to me? I'm assuming it's related to her also getting sunburned only on her affected side.

Last night, she suddenly clutched her abdomen in excruciating pain. Only, it was because of severe pain in her arm which lasted quite a while. I almost took her to the hospital for it. She's a few years old. Any thoughts from experience with this? What can be done for this? She's also been waking up more and more saying "mommy, my arm hurts".

My son also experiences the sun burn problems. We just try to use higher SPF & keep him covered with a shirt. As far as the paid, my son hasn't experienced, but I'm sure if you consult with a BPI specialist like Kozin, Waters or Nath - they should be able to give you some help.

The redness is because the arm's circulation is not the same as her unaffected side.

The abdomen pain from her arm is called referred pain and is typical of nerve damage. Just make sure that if she does have pain it really is from her arm.

Neuropathy is tough to deal with as everyone is different and no two people experience it the same way.

Contact her doctor also, he/she might have some good advice on how to deal with the pain she is having now.

These Weird "things" are very very common with us OBPI-ers, altho it's different kinds and instensity for each individual as all injuries are not alike. It's a Lifetime-Care Issue we adults refer to as a Secondary medical issues/injury.
Hugs Heal,
Carolyn J
LOBPI/72

I've always had a weird sudden onset pain, even as a child. As a child I would loose my breath and run for someone to massage the muscle in my upper arm. It was not a cramp, it was not a pain as I knew pain but different... It was like electric shock but not really. I still can describe it, even at 70. One small child here at ubpn said he felt like someone was sticking sharp sticks in him.

I was lucky because my family doctor understood. He told my Mom the pain was real and when I was a teenager began to give me monthly shots of B-12 to help with my nervous system. I also took B-complex since I was tiny...ugh terrible tasting liquid... but the b-12 to this day seems to really keep this sudden sharp attacks away. My daughter is a nurse so she gives me the b-12 shots. For many years the doctors thought it was useless and did not understand obpi and just ignored it. I tried to talk them into b-12 shots... but they said no... Finally one doctor said...hey, it can't hurt you and I don't know much about your injury...but lets try... That was ten years ago and I hardly get them any more... so is it mind over matter as some think... I don't know for sure but when I skip a month here and there... they start in and that is when I remember I haven't gotten my b-12 shot.

Since your child is young they would not give b-12 shots but perhaps increase b-complex vitamins. One doctor told me that you cannot overdose on B, when taken as a B complex and it should always be taken that way. The doctors who took care of me for the first 26 years of my life is the one who put me on B.... He said that B works on your nervous system and is depleted under stress... sooo Pain equals stress.... stress depletes b.... so I often became b depleted...
Sounds crazy but it works for me... Speak to a doctor about it before trying anything... but it might be worth try... Only a doctor can tell you what is best.

THANKS for reminding me, Kath about B 12 complex...i forgot...LOL
Hugs all around my UBPN Family,
"Gramma" Carolyn J
LOBPI/72