United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

O.k. here I go again with over use on my good arm. I was diagnosed over a month ago with brachioradialis. I have severe pain in my good arm that wakes me up at nite. I was given an anti inflamatory drug and told no heavy lifting. I was told if this does not help that he would send me to a neurologist. (I detest them) ...Has anyone ever had this? I have been trying to not carry any heavy objects , but sometimes you gotta do what you need to do. I do not want to take any meds for pain.I have been putting off going back to my doctors office because I dont want to go thru emgs and all that nasty stuff. Any advice would be appreciated .
Judy 49(ROBPI)

Dear dear Judy T,
Just don't use your "good" arm as much as possible for ANYTHING strenuous, it's all we have. The Vacuum was my pivitol "moment" I do not own 1 now to temp me or have me forget...I have a marvelous cleaning lady who is worth gold to me. My Scott doesn't see dirt(vision defecits) so that's makes my cleaning lady/friend sooo valuable. I also have pain in good arm in the mornings.

Once you make not using good arm a priority until it becomes automatic not to use it, make yourself signs or post-its everywhere you tend to use it for anything strenuous or 1 lb. limit. Someone posted around a year or 2 ago that she was having surgery on her good arm....That scared me into making saving/not using ,my good arm a priority. It took awhile but now its automatic to ask someone around to do what I need, or just not do it. It takes work and concentration, but it's worth it..... I change dinner menus alot at the last minute!
HUGS,
Carolyn J

Judy
Been there done that and learned a hard lesson. I don't lift things anymore. I had the emg on the good arm and hated it almost as much as I hate it on bpi arm. He told me to take drugs, get a handicap parking, no repetitive motion. Are ya rolling on the floor laughing now??? I don't take drugs but did put in the hot tub and did my arm stretching every day for the few years I had it. I really miss it this very cold year... It helped my back, neck and arm. He also told me not to do food shopping anymore. Think of the motions for putting things in the basket and on the counter. When we push the shopping cart to the car, we are lopsided and twist our spine... this leads to more complications. I have a chronic sciatica from all the wagons pushed. The PT showed me how my spine was twisted when I pushed the wagon to the car. That is why I finally got a Handicap pass. I emgs but had to have them on my legs and was surprised to find out I have nerve damage there now... It's time to cut back on things we do that stresses our unaffected arm and spine. So start backing away from some of the work now. Your not being a baby but preserving whats left of the unaffected arm. You need to have use of it for many years to come.

Judy I am not sure what you mean.. what you named is simply a name of a muscle, not a diagnosis. Does the MD mean you have an injury to that muscle? Strain?
Where is the pain when it wakes you? (elbow?)
It's a typical injury from overuse, which, face it, for us it's a given that at some point we will do it to some degree or another! Suck

Marieke, It is an injury to the area, apparently swelling. No , it's not the elbow. It is just below the elbow and radiates down the forearm.
Thanks everyone for your advice. And Carolyn that was me who had surgery on the good arm. It was for my medial nerve.

This does suck!!!!!

Judy

hope you can get some relief soon!