United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I am 18 years old and i crashed a motorcycle in March 2002 had my surgery on c5 c6 c7 grafting nerves came from between my ribs (2) and my bicept on the inside of my arm.i am know just about 7 months atfer surgery and have flikering in my shoulder and tricep and i am going down for my second operation because the graft on the nerve for my bicep didnt join proper so i a due down in london on the 10th of this month (dec2002) for the second attempt with Mr Birch in Stanmore who i speak very highly of he is a man that knows what he is doing with BPI's he is also going to transfer a tendon in my wrist to give me more power and flexibility in the end but i have very reasonable hand movement already and can pull my wrist up to just above nuteral but my hand is very sensitive and causes severe pain.....please reply with your injury,experiences and recovery if similar kevin

Hi Kevin. Im an occasional visitor here, a patient like yourself. No one can say for sure the outcome or recovery from the trauma or surgery, your best bet is to ask Rolf Birch when you see him as you're in good hands there he's one of the very top guys.
There's a group you would find interesting with some very hard working folks behind it;

http://tbpiukgroup.homestead.com/index_1.html

Check it out, good luck!

Thank you Dave m i posted this a while back now and i have joined that group bpi uk group and have been in touch with a few and found out more.I am actually meeting marc thats also a member of the group on friday 13th dec because i leave for london tomorow for my second operation with Rolf Birch and he told me i will get 65%-75% of my arm back so from what i have been told i am to expect that to because he really is and outstanding man when it comes to this.My recovery so far has been really good i can move my hand out from my side about 10-11 inches now i have a good grip with my hand my wrist is coming on more its just my bicep that isnt working yet but thats what my next operation is for.It didnt work first time.Thanx again Dave happy healing

Kiven do's Dr. Rolf Birch have a web sit? Or is there information about him some where that I may read. I understand hes from London in reading your postings. Paul

Hi Paul, here's the page from the Royal National Ortopaedic Hospital in London referring to Prof Birch http://www.rnoh-stanmore.org.uk/clinica ... Injury.asp He has also answered a questionnaire in the medical resources section of this website. As far as I know he only accepts NHS (that is, patients from the UK under the univeral health system there, he doesn't accept private fee paying patients as far as I know). He has written books on bpi surgery, I got mine from Amazon but it's expensive, although well worth it (to me).

Paul
I think jenny is correct that Mr Birch only accepts NHS patients - but it's worth checking that fact out with the hospital.
if you are thinking of coming to the UK for treatment/opinions etc there is another specialist who also does extensive bpi work called Simon Kay, he does take private work as well as NHS
you can check out the website at;
www.leeds.ac.uk/handsurgery
hope that helps
Karen

Paul


i dont think he has a web site paul but you got the link for the hospital so you should email your situation to them nd maybe you will get treatment.i dont know if he will or not but he is one of the best in the world at what he does.i just got back from london yesterday 12th of dec2002 i got 2cm of my ulnar nerve transfered to my bicep.i just got operated on on the 11th and got out on the 12th which i am bluddy delighted about.when proff birch examined me he was very happy with my progress and said i should be able to lift my arm 90 degrees in about 6 mounth wich will be a year and 1 mounth post operation so i am delighted.

happy healing

Kevin

Hi Kevin,

Today I found out I have herniated disks (c4,5, c6,7) and (will) require surgery. In your experieince, are there any alternatives to this? Thanks. Tibor.

I have a question, does severed means root avulsion and injured means they were cut off?
I don't think you mean that because how quick you have recovered, but I am not sure.