United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Well so today I was at Maia's preschool as a helper...

It was very interesting for me because what I learned is that 100% of the time she is there, she is holding on to a stuffed animal in her Erb's Engram elbow bend. Well doesn't THAT explain a worsening biceps contracture. How many hours could you keep your arm like this without having some muscles shorten!!

and SHE doesn't hold her paper down with leftie...her STUFFED ANIMAL does.

So I guess the reason I'm writing about this is to tell you moms with little ones to go observe every once in a while and see what's happening. It may open your eyes a bit!

Unbelievable.
-francine

Ahhhh Francine now why am I not surprised...LOL... not that it is funny but I can relate to her compensation so well... I stuff my pocket book under my arm and carry anything I can with my elbow bent - it is just so comfortable... I love sweat shirts with big patch front pocket --- I can put my hands in when I walk and don't have to try to remember to swing my arms...

It is the comfort position... at least that is what I call it... I stuff everything in my arm - I just did it and realized that when my arm is bent at the elbow and close to my body my shoulder is more comfortable... could that be the reason little Miss Maia is hanging on to teddy? She feels more comfortable... My arm is heavy when it just hangs.

Now how do you fix this? I don't think its a matter of bad habit but a matter of comfort. But it would be best if she did not do it all day.

Time to put on our thinking caps...

Kath

I also went to visit Amanda's "special" pre-school yesterday. She attends regular pre-school and then for two and a half hours a day is bussed to an integrated pre-school. Well, I brought her in myself yesterday so I could show the OT and teachers her new supination splint. I was with her in the waiting room when one of the aides came in - saw her splint and exclaimed "AMANDA, WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?!?!?!?!?!" I couldn't believe it! This aide has been with the class since September and she didn't even know Amanda was there for her arm! It seems Amanda is doing the same thing - compensating in little ways that makes it less obvious there is a problem with her left arm. I guess she's busy with the other children when the OT works with Amanda so she doesn't know they are specifically working on her arm. You'd think a huge sign on her bookbag saying "PLEASE BE CAREFUL WITH MY LEFT ARM" would be a hint. I was even more upset when Amanda suddenly became self-conscious and asked me to take her splint off. Ugh!

I think it's great to visit too. Nicole doesn't go to preschool, but she goes to a 1-hr preschool playgroup weekly which is at the local elementary school. It's optional if the parents want to stay. I used to stay all the time when she started last spring. This year, I usually leave, but do still stay occasionally, just to see what's going on, etc. I also think it's helpful to meet the asst. teachers and give Awareness materials to them personally. Nicole's asst. teachers thanked me for including them in the Awareness packages I compiled this year. -Tina

Francine I do a once a month volunteer in my sons kindergarten class. Its great. I just want to see how he interacts with the other kids and how the BPI affects him, if at all. It was an eye opener for me and so glad I am doing it. He loves me to come in too. I sit in the back of the room and help the teacher with stuff, but really I'm observing. Its a great idea everyone, if you can do it.

I'm not sure what to say Francine - Maia is a clever one! Maybe you could only allow her to bring her stuffed animal on certain days...not sure what the rules are - or maybe switch her bringing an animal to her wearing a cool new bracelet, ring, or play watch that will motivate her to straighten her arm to show her friends? I wish I was more help.

This reminds me of something Brittney does. Maybe some of the older OBPI's do this too. When she swings on a swing she uses her inside elbow crease of her injured arm to hold on to the swing with. She uses her hand on one side and her inside elbow on the other side of the swing and then swings. She has always done this - she says she is more comfortable this way.

Christy

I am constantly having to take stuff out of Maxs left hand/well arm really because he often carries it in the crook of his arm~

I do the same thing.. STILL! Bcos my arm is bent it looks so much more natrual if im holdin something! I have a lot of pics of me when i was little with my teddy wedged between my body and my right arm! My arm didnt look bad because i was jst holding somethin! Now i will put my class books in my hand and have them tucked to my body too! it looks normal when i do that and i dont have to try and hold them because my arm is there anyway!

Its probably not good for children to do it cos when i try and stretch my arm out ... it doesnt really do it. But for me my arm is jst like that and iv dun it for so long i jst dont change it anymore! I forget i do it all the time. It jst comes natraully.

Michellex

Katie does this as well except her favorite is to hold small objects in her hand--which then the wrist curls around because she can take her brace off! But she does like to hold bigger toys in the crook of her elbow too...

I agree with Kathleen & Michelle. I am 28 - LOBPI and always choose to walk at work with folders/papers/coffee:) on my left side; to be as discreet as possible.
In my opinion, it truly is much easier to hold something versus just letting it hang & feel self-conscious about position, swinging, etc....There's also the fact that I usually forget what and if Im holding anything (keys,sunglasses,pens)every moment of a busy day, in the classroom.
It may be a comfort factor (mentally/physically). let's try to understand - any insight?