United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

KAth,
I know you know the answer to this. Why aren't we supposed to have blood pressure taken or a needle stick in the Erb's arm? I know I had it done when I had my finger joint debridement/carpal tunnel.pronater release. I just have never let anyone because it makes me feel vulnerable--or something????? The surgery was the only time. I have had vicious phlebotomists that after about six times wanted to try the other arm . I always refused. Don't know why it scares me to have that arm messed with. The unaffected arm is the one that hurts--and as winter sets in-I feel like an overgrown toothache!! Pat

i didn't know that! i had my Menigitis C vacinaton in my right arm so that i would not feel the pain! i hate needles! but looks like i am allowed to give blood now so i might need to get over it!

I thought it has to do with the poor circulation in the affected arm. And the fact that you can't fight off infection as well either. I know that my daughter is sick and is running a fever. If I take the temp. in her left arm pit (unaffected side) it is almost 2 degrees less than on her right side.

Pat

I was told as a little girl... never never any needles or blood pressure on my right arm... my family doctor kept hammering that into my head...

As I see it... because our arms are damaged at birth and some of the scar tissue and nerve growth is much different then normal... our veins are small... our circulation is poor... and the "map" of our arms is different... many of the nerve's have made their way through neuromas and the veins that nourish the muscles are tiny... the risk of blowing a vein and loosing the flow to a muscle is greater... the risk of infection is higher...
I also have to wonder now that I am typing this if we receive a shot in an arm with poor circulation how does it circulate through our system...hmmmm
Anyone have an answer????

I have contracture's in my elbow and also under my arm.... so I think the circulation must be very poor... since I am typing and my arm and hand are freezing... Why would I let anyone cut off the blood supply by taking my blood pressure... besides it would not be accurate.... does that help....????

And if it does not help.... just say NO NO NO.... AND IF THEY PERSIST..... SAY.... NO NO NO........
I have discovered that after three years of really studying our injury I know so much more about than any of the average medical care takers or phlebotomists... take charge girl!!!

Now I hate blood out of the unaffected arm... no veins left... so much scar tissue in the elbow area... they can't find a good vein... I have tiny veins to begin with... They use preemie needles on me and it takes forever to get the blood out... I put off my blood tests at all costs... two years now since my last one.... I know I need one but my unaffected arm is the reason for the last 6 month of PT and the last few weeks of traction...grrrrrrr....

freezing and hating the cold....
Kath

karlos once posted a quote from his specialist about how a bpi affects the arm and why needles etc are not ok in there, (this applies to tbpi too, if any of you are reading this) it was easy to understand but I can't find it. It wasn't only circulation, there was much more to it than that......just don't let em do it and ask them why they didn't know this!

i was speaking to a nurse, who spoke about scar tissue and that because of lack of sensation(espeacially with me) it could caues even more damage.

Anna

I must really be messed up. My obpi arm is the only one they can get a vein and that is in the bend of the arm. My veins tend to "run away" once they have been hit. As for my blood pressure, it just hurts too much to have the cuff on my arm. I guess I've been lucky not to get any infection or whatever else might happen I did have one blood drawer who is a good hit, she actually got blood in a different vein. My right (good arm) they just kind of look at close and automatically seek the left.
Sharon

I;m like you, Kath. No more good veins. It just makes me cringe to think of someone going at tat Erb's arm with a needle though. I've just always told the lab the arm doesn't straighten. Same with the blood pressure,although-- a few years ago I had a cardiac cath --the IV was in the left,BP on the Right-Erb's arm. They were appalled because it was really low--like 80/40. I run a little low anyways, but not THAT much, Maybe it was the arm???? When I go to the Dr. next month, I think I'll have him check and see if there's any major difference.
Is anyone having major finger coldness from this weather. This is the worst year yet. My whole arm isn't cold-only the forearm,hand and fingers. I hate gloves because I'm clumsy as it is from the arthritis and gloves make me drop things all over the place. Poor me!!!! Wah! Whine!! Ahhhhhh. I needed that! Pat

Pat

My fingers - hands and forearm are freezing... and now we have 6 inches of snow outside that will not warm them....

I started a medication for the first time... The orthopedist just looked at my hand x-rays... and groaned... told me I had not choice... I hated to give in and take medication but he said I no longer had a choice... AND HE WAS RIGHT two days on Relafen (nabumetone 750 mg. two x a day) great... wow... I am amazed how it helped not only my hands but my neck and shoulder too... did not realize how much I hurt till I felt better... duh... slow learner...
I need my knuckles replaced eventually but he said not until I can't close my hand at all...I dread the thought of that… what do I do with the left hand out of commission? I’ll be like Scarlet O’Hara and think about it tomorrow…LOL…. That works for me….

He also said I should use the paraffin bath EVERY DAY!!!! And take glucosomine condroitin (Yikes can’t spell – did you read the right handed left handed thing on the General Board?) He said that would really help and the paraffin bath would ease the pain and give relief…. So I plugged mine in and will do it at bed time to keep my hands warm… and the ginger old rub that Francine suggested last winter…
Do you do any of those things? Maybe they will help…
Also if you know you are getting a shot how about Emla cream to numb the spot?
As for taking our Blood Pressure… Why? If the circulation is poor how can the blood pressure be correct… besides it Hurts!!! And causes a spasm for me!!! And starts the shocks into my hand…
So will I see you at camp?....
Kath

I take vioxx now, but I don't see much relief. I'll ask about Relafen the next time I go to the Dr. I just may show up at camp this year. I used to use the paraffin bath. It burned in the fire last year and I never got around to getting another one. As for the glucosamine chondroitin--I take it and notice a difference in my knees, but not the hands.
I was told that joint relacements in the fingers only last about 5 years and give only 30-40% mobility. My index finger is almost fused-I had surgery to remove a large bone spur--it was really ainful and when they got in there found that all the cartilege was gone and the ends of the bones were eroded. So that finger doesn't bend anymore. The middle finger is numb, the ring and pinkie have that swan neck deformity-- I have the prettiest hands in Ohio. Stay warm! Pat