United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hi everyone. I just found this site and I think it's great. I received my bpi 2 years ago as a result of a surgery. I had a sub clavian blood clot and my right first rib was removed to ease the pressure on the vein.
My arm was totally useless after the surgery. In 6 months I regained complete use of my arm. I still have severe burning and stabbing pains throughout my arm and the very tip of my elbow is completely numb. I guess I'm pretty lucky considering military doctors did this to me. It could be a lot worse. Anyway, just wanted to say hi, and I'm wondering if anyone else received their bpi from a surgery.

Later,
Roy.

Hi Roy

Welcome to the message board.

I am birth injured but there are some others who were injured during surgery and air bags and trees and bikes... and even gun shots...

Thanks for sharing your information will everyone.

Kath

Hi Roy and welcome! I'm jennyb, have had no use of my right arm for 22 years after a motorbike accident.

Don't know if you checked the 'Roll call-lurkers too' post, most of the posters there have listed how they got their injury, last time I totalled everything up i think surgery was the second commonest cause of tbpi after motorbikes......that's pretty shocking to me. I'm glad you got some use of your arm back, hopefully the pain will fade away too-it does in most cases within 2/3 years, especially if the nerves are stretched rather than avulsed (ripped from the spinal cord).
Let us know how you're getting on, it's always nice to follow someone's recovery :0)

ps.....this website might be of interest, it was started by a guy who got a tbpi from surgery http://www.doctors-malpractice.com/ hope it helps!

Hi, I had cardiac bypass surgery in 2000. woke up to no use of the left arm/hand and poor use on the right.

No one mentioned this could be a side effect of the surgery.

Luckily I regained right arm. hand use quickly-- still struggling w/ left side but much improved- Had PT and OT first year-- since then it is mostly strength exercises and WAITING for the nerve to regenerate--
MD says may take another year or two. Grows about an inch a month-- with short arms-- one would expect to be done by now-- so it goes---

I have had much pain relief from Neurotin-- it relieved the "firing" sensation and a lot of the general discomfort.

Now that the weather is colder here in Atlanta, I am back to being the one-gloved wonder--- my hand "feels" cold but it is not-- only relief is to "super" heat it w/ covering until sensation subsides...

Hi, thanks for your story. I too tried Neurontin but it made me so drowsy 24 hrs a day. I wanted to sleep all day. I'm on Tegretol now. It seems to help a little with the stabbing pains. As for the burning sensation, my doctor suggested capsacian cream. It's a topical cream used to treat arthritis and can be bought over-the-counter. I rub it on my arm about 4 times a day. I just started it a few days ago so I don't know if it works yet. I recommend you talk to your doctor if you want to try it though.