United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hi all,

I went in yesterday excited about the future improvements I would get from my accessory to supra-scapular nerve transfer. It was supposed to help reinnervate my deltoid so I could strengthen my shoulder and prevent future subluxation. Unfortunately, once the surgeon got inside he found I had damaged the nerve so badly as part of my traumatic accident that he could not complete the transfer. I go back on Monday to discuss next steps but it looks like a muscle transfer by an orthopedic for shoulder, then Mayo or St Louis for my wrist and hand.

I know everyone on here has been dealt a blow like this as well but I wanted to update my progress and voice how frustrated I am today. It's an emotional roller coaster.

Anyway, I'll post an update as I learn more. Thanks for listening.

Jeff

WOW!! i just got home from the laundromat. i was telling a man to not take the use of his hands for granted. this time last year, i could not fold my laundry because my hand was useless for most things. i am so thankful for what i got back so far. aint easy to fold laundry with it, but at least i can if i take it very slow.
jeff, dont give up. i went to dr mackinnon in st louis and the surgery she did gave me back all the function i have now. it is not what i want it to be, but i was losing my hand entirely and it was EXTREMELY frustrating to think i would never use my hand again. hope you have as much, or more, success as i have had.
your injury happened in august of 2011? this is still a fairly new injury. the healing process has not even started yet. good luck.
it will get better, hang in there.

I wish sometimes I had you Guys in front of me just so I could show you how to do things one handed with a help of your affected side. But I know our injuries are different for sure So I will tell you how I do things like folding Laundry I can only lift my Erbs arm a few inches and my grasp comes from my thumb ,index and middle finger and very little from the other two. I usually put things like clothing in my good hand and pinch with my thumb and index finger with my erbs hand and hold this way to help in fold pants and shirts. I pinch the neck line and hold it like this to hang a shirt on a hanger close to my body because I cant reach out. Even if you get stuck with limitation for a life time you will find ways to adapt to SOMEthings for sure.

Tom

I appreciate the votes of confidence from you both...I know I will improve and I will learn to do many things in new ways, but it was just frustrating to have a surgery that accomplished nothing.

Went back to Dr today and we setup a consultation with Dr Tommy Tung in St. Louis for early January. Looks like some work with inter coastal nerves and prep for future work on hand/finger movement, followed by a muscle transfer. I'm a little new to this being injured thing and have had a tough time being patient and expecting things to improve at a faster rate. Thank god I have great wife and family support.

Merry Christmas and happy New Year to all. Be safe.

Jeff

Hi Jeff,
Thanks for the comment Good news if you fell frustrated this sight is great You are staying positive in the face of disappointment that is great to. I dont care if your born like me and no help or treatment for my erbs but it does bother me when there is treatments today that dont work out One thing always was a gift to me was a will to overcome even in the face of disapiomment of trying YOU never loss or fail by trying and depression is always overcome by Determination to try no matter the outcome We all are here to reach out the best we can

Best Wishes and Merry Christmas to All Here

Tom

I had nerve transfer from my trapezius to my supraspinatus and my right intercoastal to my bicep (right arm). The supraspinatus went well, no issues at surgery but the intercoastal nerves were really deep in scar tissue. The Dr had only one he could use and it was small and short. So he turned me over, took a nerve from my left calf and ran that from the small intercoastal to my bicep; the idea that the intercoastal would grow along the transplanted nerve. The supraspinatus started working in 5 months and now its pretty strong. After a year I had given up on my bicep but 4 weeks ago (15 months after surgery) I tried my physical therapy (flex my stomach while breathing out) and it moved my bicep. So I was pretty excited; its gets stronger every day but its still pretty weak. But I think in 6 months or so I should be able to lift my fore-arm.
So both of mine were successful, I'm glad I did it. Good luck with yours!

i think the secret to a successful surgery is to give it a LOT of time to heal. (at least 2-3 years) one of the things i was dissapointed with was the fact that one day, i was able to open a clothes pin all the way. (could not do that at all before). the next day, i could not even begin to open that clothes pin, but my fingers were just a bit stronger than what it was before i had this surge of strength. now, when i get these surges of strength, i am happy to know i am regaining a little more strength. hang in there it will get better