United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hello all, thanks for having me. This board has been a truly invaluable resource since my accident on October 15th, 2013, a little over 2 months ago.

I will expand on my injuries in a separate post, but basically I was in a motorcycle accident, and caused trauma to my left brachial plexus, possibly including an avulsion to C6, or C8, and/or both, or neither - we don't know yet - a second EMG & CT Myelogram is pending. I lost my bicep, triceps, deltoid, pecs, wrist & finger extension, & more. Fortunately, I can still close my hand and have decent sensation there. I also have significant pain in the hand (namely, the pointer & middle fingers, & thumb). I am 27 years old and in otherwise good health.

Last Saturday, one week ago, I started feeling a tingle or vibration in my triceps when trying to straighten the arm. Very exciting! But a few days ago I met with Dr. Zager at UPenn, and he wasn't as excited about the tingle as I was, saying it could stop there and not improve further, or that if it didn't improve further in a few weeks, it's probably not going to heal spontaneously.

So my question today is, for those of you who have had previously dead or denervated muscles recover either spontaneously or via surgical intervention, how long was it between your first signs of movement (a tingle or vibration, etc.) until you had actual movement in that muscle?

Alex

Hi Alex
Your doing GREAT
You have come far in three month
I cant comment on possible surgery or treatments, because none were ever offered to me with birth erbs in the 50s, or ever.
What I will tell you is that , what ever you can strength and gain use-age will happen to overtime. Finding other doctors in time that can help will happen to by Quest, sorry
When you can get into therapy do it
Having any hand movement is a big plus Something to build on to gain grasp mean alot in adapting overtime, Help me drive a semi with erbs. The best way I found over time was a small rubber ball to squeeze it helps stretch the fingers to and yes the pins and needles your experience and pain. Stretching your arm and other limitation will help to in therapy.
you will get movement overtime in what you can and you will find other doctors to help by Quest. The question of will I get more movement will happen to in time to what you can gain in usage or what you learn to adapt to or a new treatment or surgery, So many post here say it to and you see what others do by adapting the best they can. Your on this path to
Its interesting what outcomes happens in trying , you really are less depress by doing so.
Sure there is hope in our post but so is outcome by trying, You will do better to take a doctor option and find other doctor with others direction to gain use, It is a frustrating thing trying to find the next doctor that mite help In the 50s there really was no help for my Erbs, Today surgery and treatment are out there , but finding that next doctor is a quest But real by so many posting here say it to.
Hope this help???
Tom

Just remember, nerves heal slowly! It's a cm/month. At this point any sensation is a good sign and movement starts out as more like feeling your muscle jump! Pain comes with most traumatic BPI. Keep working! Mayo clinic in MN waits until month 3 after injury to evaluate! Good luck!