United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hi everyone. Hope everyone is doing well. I had the accident back on july 23, 2010 and still no surgery. I just received the MRI results and what I understood from what read (I'm not a doctor) was that I may have a C7 avulsion and C5 and C6 look like they have some damage, but not avulsion on those. I sent those results to the doctor but he hasn't reply yet. I can not way for him to talk to me, I'm desperate. I sometimes think doctors are not taking me serious. I'm terrify of the idea of being like this for the rest of my life, mainly because of my son. At what point does one get used to the idea that he/she is going to be like this forever? I wish I was as strong as most of you in here. I want to think that there is hope for me, it's what keeps me going. God bless.

Wow. You need to get some action immediately. I had my surgery 3 months post accident.

good luck. i had my injury on may 18 2010, my doc has refused to do an EMG or anything else other than OT. i finally had to get really agressive about it. i finally have an EMG scheduled for jan 25. it will be 8 months by then. i just hope you dont have to wait that long. if i were you, i would start getting DEMANDING SOMETHING ASAP. i hate it that it came to me being agressive, but you have to do what you have to do. i am not an agressive person unless you push me to an extreme. and i think causing me to lose my arm and hand function and not even say your sorry or even want to do any testing to see how bad the damage really is is an extreme push. good luck and hang in there it will get better

Why have you not gotten a adequate diagnosis or had surgery? Do you not have health insurance?

Thank you everyone. I have Tricare Prime and they already refered to Duke University in NC. By then I just had an EMG done, so Duke wanted MRI as well. Waited about 3 weeks for that, sent it to Duke, but no response yet. I'm definitely going to my provider and get some answers because in tired of waiting..

Duke University nor UNC Chapel Hill could really help me with my TBPI. I found a doctor at Wake Forest University named Dr. Li. He is excellent. The Mayo Clinic is very well informed of him. He did my nerve transfer and did a great job. I would strongly recommend you get to Winston Salem and Wake Forest University ASAP. If not there, you certainly could go to the Mayo Clinic. (I went there as well). Time is of the essence, you really cannot afford to wait any longer. Good luck in your decisions the coming days.

Aleman33, Dr. Li is at Baptist Hospital, Wake Forest University.

Dr. Jon Li

336-716-8200
336-716-8018

I HAVEN'T ACCEPTED THAT I WILL BE THIS WAY FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE BECAUSE I BELIEVE ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE,I DO REALIZE THAT COULD VERY WELL BE THE CASE AND IF IT IS I WILL DEAL WITH IT AT THAT TIME BUT RIGHT NOW I'M FOCUSING ON GETTING THIS FIXED,I'VE BEEN THROUGH ALOT OF DIFFERENT TRIALS IN MY LIFE,I'VE ALWAYS BEEN PHYSICALLY ACTIVE,ALWAYS KEPT A JOB AND I MUST SAY TO LOSE MY ABILITY TO DO SOO MANY THINGS THAT CAME NATURALLY AND THAT I ENJOYED DOING,HAS BEEN ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS I'VE HAD TO FACE,AND YES IT DOES SCARE ME TO THINK THAT I MAY HAVE TO SPEND THE REST OF LIFE WITH THIS INJURY,BUT UNTIL THAT BECOMES THE REALITY WE GOTTA KEEP FIGHTING TO OVERCOME THIS.I DON'T HAVE ANY KIDS AND I'M NOT MARRIED BUT I HAVE TO TRY FOR MYSELF.ALOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND IT'S NOT LIKE HAVING A BROKEN BONE THAT WILL HEAL OVER TIME,THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE PERMANENT,THE GOOD THING IS WE HAVE TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICAL SCIENCE ON OUR SIDE,UNFORTUNATELY WE DON'T HAVE ALOT OF TIME.I HAD PLANS OF GETTING MARRIED THIS YEAR AND STARTING A FAMILY OF MY OWN,I HAD TO PUT THOSE IDEAS ON HOLD BECAUSE I HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW I'M GOING TO SUPPORT MYSELF ESPECIALLY IF I CAN'T GET HELP IN TIME,I MISS RIDING MY BIKE,WORKING ON MY CAR,HOLDING MY LADY AND HUGGING MY MOTHER,I KNOW YOU CAN RELATE,PLUS YOU HAVE A KID SO YOU HAVE TO GO HARD BRO,FOR YOUR LITTLE ONE NO MATTER WHAT THE OUTCOME,IT'S NOT TOO LATE BUT YOU HAVE TO GET ON IT NOW,DON'T WAIT.MY 39TH BIRTHDAY IS TODAY AND PEOPLE SAY I'M LUCKY BECAUSE I'M STILL ALIVE,HONESTLY THERES NOTHING LUCKY ABOUT THIS INJURY AND I DON'T REALLY HAVE MUCH TO CELEBRATE ABOUT,BUT SINCE I AM STILL HERE I GOTTA KEEP FIGHTING AND SO DO YOU!GOOD LUCK....

armstrong,
happy birthday. and welcome to the forum. just wanted to mention that i can relate to your circumstances. i'll be 5 months out from my accident next tues. good luck to you. and keep that great spirit alive.

Happy belated birthday Armstrong and thank you for all you advices. It truly means a lot. I exactly understand what you're going through, it's scary. I certainly would like to carry my son above my head again. Like you said, we have to be strong and hope for the best. They finally scheduled me for a nerve surgery evaluation and hopefully they operate soon after that. No one explained the MRI results yet, but by reading the report and looking at the images it says I have a C7 avulsion. Let hope they can fix it. Armstrong I wish you the best, stay strong, and thank you so much for your words.