United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

i am scheduled for nerve transfer surgery on july 12. as far as function goes in my hand, i can manage very well with what i have. it is not anywhere near normal, but manageable. the problems i have are severe sensations that are very annoying and sometimes painful. then there is the numbness. i could put my entire arm on a hot stove and not know i am touching anything. that is dangerous, i know. my injury was almost 14 months ago. i will be on lyrica for probably a long time also. my fingers are starting to claw because they are getting so stiff and are extremely weak. i excercise them constantly i am not willing to let them claw up and die.

would it be worth it to have this surgery to get the feeling back in my arm and hand or just leave it and hope my fingers dont claw up and not be able to use them

and i know it is my decision whether or not to have this surgery. i just want some opinions on what other people would do. so, please just let me know your opinion.

thank you

It sounds like you are scared. You didn't list any reasons against having the surgery, but several in favor of it. Only you can assess the risks and make this decision, but again... I didn't read anything in your words that would suggest it is not a good idea.

Any decision to put yourself in the hands of another (and God, if you believe in that) is tough.

*hugs*

Kate

Joyce I'm Praying for you.
Carolyn J

i'm not scared, just dont know what to expect with nerve transfers. the last surgery i had caused the bpi. i was not well informed of this risk. i just want to know what to expect if anything goes wrong. (god forbid something like this happens again). i am actually looking forward to having some feeling in my arm and hand again. the surgery itself is not the problem. it is the possibility of anything happening again. just a bit leary of ANY surgery right now. and PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not be scared to inform me of the risks of nerve transfers. i can handle that better than being surprised again. either way, i am 99.99999% sure i will have these surgeries. (i am having 4 transfers all at the same time)

((((hugs)))) to anyone who can help me. and anyone else who needs one too

JMAR
Considering that you got your injury from surgery I understand your concern I had the nerve transfer surgery in March saw my doctor for a check up last week and he said it was still early and that I should start seeing some return of function in the next few months to come.In my opinion the surgeries for these injuries are never "successful" because you never really get the function back that you had before the injury so I think you have to decide will you be able to deal with it if you have the surgery and it doesn't improve to your expectations or is any function even the most minimal worth the risk?If so,go in with positive thoughts and get it done.Best wishes and good luck.

thank you for your responses. today is saturday. i had the surgery tuesday. all went well. i thought i was just going to have bandages. but i had a hard plastic 1/2 cast. it was changed to a removable splint 2 days later. my litte shriveled arm was twice the size of my good arm with that cast on it. i have a little feeling in my pinkie & ring fingers that i did not have before. as far as function, i will have to start over. that is o.k. i can deal with that. i just wanted some feeling and strength back. hopefully, i will keep gaining more feeling back. the strength will come back, also, eventually. i know it will. because i won't give up on it. thank you all for listening. no one else understands the crazy sensations that can drive a person up the wall. (unless you been there)

Good luck with your recovery.

thank you