United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I'm a newbie. TBPI from auto accident 8/6/2016. Hit nearly head on by someone under the influence of drugs( repeat offender) and it's been a big struggle to cope with all of it. Lots of pain and depression, learning to use my other arm since the injury is in my dominant arm(Right).The doctors say nothing can really be done and maybe the nerves will repair themselves with time.
Any advice, suggestions, help....I'm frustrated and at a loss

Hi. I'm new to this site, and had a traumatic Bpi 20 months ago from a shoulder surgery. The only thing I could move for several months was my bicep. It took three months to start to move my index finger. Nine months to be able to move my wrist. The pain I endured was excruciating, there was also much swelling for months, which inhibited much attempts at manually moving the joints of my fingers, and my wrist tendons were very painful and would snap when manually moving them. My advice is to listen to your body and your pain. It has served me well, as no therapists or doctors can really advise you what exactly to do. Everybody has unique injury with this. When my wrist tendons was very painfully snapping, I respected that and only moved a little. Eventually after many months that changed and improved. Also, it is important to manually move your hand and finger and elbow joints, but do it as much as you can without forcing and causing a lot of pain. I have very good range of motion in my hand, but it has taken a lot of patience and very gradual. I had a night brace for my hand made for my at Mayo clinic that was very helpful for certain joints in my hand to gently stretch them, but it took time to gradually use it more and more. It is easy to injure delicate joints and ligaments in the hand and wrist. I hope this is helpful so far. Let me know if you have any specific questions I might try to help you with.

I have also had a lot of depression. It is a very painful injury, and there are lots of unknowns. My understanding is that surgery is usually warranted when the nerves are severed. Otherwise, when they have been severely stretched, the best outcomes normally occur with allowing the nerves to regenerate. But they regeneratw very slowly,and if the ulnar nerve has been injured, it is rare to get good recovery because that nerve is very long, and while the nerve is regenerating, the muscles that it works in the hand are atrophying. At some point those muscles may not be functional due to severe atrophy. But it depends on where the nerve is injured, the farther away from the hand, the longer the nerve has to regenerate, and the worse the atrophy can be. But every case is unique, so keep up with trying to gently move joints and movement. There are some doctors that specialize in this injury. A team at Mayo clinic, and a doctor in Chicago that I like.

Hi,

I'd suggest getting to as bpi specialist ASAP. There are surgeries that can help and should be done sooner than later. There are a number of specialist around the country and you can search for a number if them on the "Resources" Tab, but here are two that would be a great starting point:

The team at Mayo is a group of Dr's that specialize with our injury.

200 First Street SW
Rochester, MN 55905
Phone: (507)266-0537 (507)284-2511

Here is another Dr who is closer to you.

Susan E. Mackinnon, MD
Specialty: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
4921 Parkview Place
Suite: G Floor: 6
St. Louis, MO 63110
http://nerve.wustl.edu/physician_mackin ... physicians
Phone: 314-362-4586 Fax: 314-362-4536

My best to you,
Dan