United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hi everyone. About 3 months ago I had a motorcycle accident that left me with no arm movement. I had surgery on my wrist. I’m able to move my fingers and my wrist in one direction. I can almost make a fist and with the palm of my hand up I can make a wrist curl, I can also move my shoulder. Atrophy is obvious from my shoulder down to my arm. My hand looks normal, but it won’t stop hurting, tingling, nerve pulling, etc. I go to therapy 3 times a week. My doctor hasn’t told that I have BPI, but one of the therapists saw my arm and guessed it. I’m curious about why my doctor hasn’t told me if I have BPI. It’s been three months, I have an Electromyogram in two weeks Can anyone please give me some advise, I’m in the military, have 4 y/o son, I’m really worry. Thank you so much

Aleman,
You're in the right place. Sorry to read about your injury.

LISTEN TO ME CAREFULLY
You are at a crucial time. Do not wait another day to find adequate attention. Most doctors, top neurosurgeons included, have no idea what to do about this injury, and are trained to sit and wait and see what happens. By then it is too late to make any repairs on your injured arm. You will have to resign to only a few options to get minimal return of function (like muscle transfers).

There are only a handful of specialists in the USA that have the training, skills, and facilities to handle this injury and get the best return of function possible.

Where are you located?

My first choice is the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota, that is where I went after an exhaustive search all over this country and to Europe as well.

Do a search on this forum and read what others have written about their experiences there.

DON'T WASTE TIME. They have a backlog of people trying to schedule appointments.

Read under the resources / medical directory link at the top of the site and ask here who recommends what (not many listed there). No one knows better than the injured patients what works and what doesn't. Most doctors unfortunately don't have a clue about what real options there are for surgical repair of this injury. It may not bring your old arm back to perfect, but it's better than waiting 6 months and then deciding you need surgery and it's too late to perform it.

Mayo prefers to operate at 4 months post injury and earlier (or later if forced by late appointment).

Best of luck,
Christopher


Mayo Clinic

200 First Street SW
Rochester, MN 55905

Phone: (507)266-0537 (507)284-2511

Fax: (507)284-8897

Thank you so much Christopher. I will definitely look into Mayo Clinic. Thank you

Where are you located?

I'm located in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Also look into John Hopkins in Maryland. Dr Belzberg is top notch too,
but I'm not sure if he is offering as many options as the Mayo is.

Or Dr Scott Wolfe in NYC at the Hospital for Special Surgery.

Also the Mayo specialists are a team of 3-4 doctors that all work together on each case!

Dr Allan Belzberg:

CONTACT INFORMATION

The Johns Hopkins Hospital
Department of Neurosurgery
Meyer Bldg, Room 5-181
600 North Wolfe Street
Baltimore, MD 21287
410-955-5810 (p)
410-614-9830 (f)
abelzbe1@jhmi.edu

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/neurolog ... n_Belzberg


Dr Scott W. Wolfe

East River Professional Building
523 East 72nd Street
New York, NY 10021

Tel: 212.606.1529

http://www.hss.edu/conditions_brachial- ... vances.asp
http://rheumatology.hss.edu/physicians_wolfe-scott.asp

Wow thank you so much. I didnt think I would get such good information here. I definitely making some moves. thank you.

Chris-

I noticed you put in an e-mail to contact Dr. Belzerg, Do you know if he minds recieving e-mails to get a brief opinion before traveling all the way there? I have also exhausted a lot of options and doctors to no avail, and i don't want to go somewhere else to hear i don't know, there's nothing I can do, etc.

Aleman:

Also, I am very sorry to hear about your injury and wish you the best of luck in recovery. Just keep your head up and keep pushing on! Everything will work out for you

I suggest you also contact Susan MacKinnon and Thomas Tung in St. Louis. They gave me an appointment within a week and work to accomodate any insurance you may have... their office no. is (314) 362-7388. We were also recommended by Tung to get second opinions at Mayo and with Belzberg....they are the main Brachial Plexus surgeons in the nation.