United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Last week, I just met with someone who is very educated with muscles, myo-fascial release, and used to be a PT. After watching a video, he observed several things and was the first person to ever mention a concern about some shortening issues with the levator scapulae (a neck muscle) on the injured side. I knew he couldn't turn his head when younger but thought that was pretty much resolved. He said to pay attention to how he sleeps, and sure enough always with the head to the right. We keep trying to turn it to the left to get some stretch during the night but even in his sleep he soon moves it right back.The true extent of this injury often seems so minimized. Don't therapists realize how intricately connected the body is???

I am wondering how many of you adults who had birth bpi's now have issues with your neck. Are the muscles shortened on the injured side or non-injured side? How does it affect you? Is it tight or sore? Any pain? Anything that has resulted in long-term change or significantly reduced any discomfort? Or it is not even an issue for most of you?

Thank you for sharing!

Hello, I am 22 and I was born with erbs palsy on my right shoulder and arm. my right shoulder actually slumps down and my right arm basically looks like I broke it. It is caused by the injured nerves causing certain muscles not to develop properly. My neck really doesnt bother me unless I sleep on my right side which I try not to. Also if I carry something heavey, I can feel slight tention in my neck. When I feel tention in my neck I massage the area usually 20min in the shower. Also I stretch the best I can simply by tilting my head to the left which also helps to rid the tension. Sometimes therapist are not that good, or they may miss something too. My parents went through many therapist until they found one they thought would be the best for my injuries. I know if it was not for them doing that, I probably would not have the amount of use of my right arm and hand today. I hope this helps.

K.

Yes, my neck feels tighter on the bpi side. The chiropractor noticed it right away and I do lots of yoga stretches now and it has helped a great deal. I never noticed a sleeping pattern but that is an interesting area to research. I always sleep on the non bpi side but that because the bpi arm seems to get in the way if I try to sleep on that side, it is just not comfortable.

Interested to hear if other adult obpi's have neck tightness.

Nancy

I too have a very tight band like thing on my neck...funny thing though out of all of you I'd rather sleep on my affected side. My neurologist called the tight band a "Fibrotic Band" I have no Idea though I really haven't been able to see any real doctors ...but yeah I go it and when it rains whooooo does it hurt i have no meds so I take like 12 200mg Ibruprofens a day it helps a little but what ya going to do..

Yes my neck muscles are restricted... I cannot touch my shoulder with the left "unaffected ear" because my neck is so tight...

I sleep on the bpi side or with my bpi arm up over my ear - face... I find it hard to find a comfortable position for sleep... It seems as if I sleep on bpi side with my face on the bpi arm... keeps the shoulder up... or on my stomach with a pillow under my arm...

Kath

The pt suggested I sleep on my back with my arms down... but I tend to be a restless sleeper...

And the cold is killing me now!!!! ugh I hate cold weather.... NY is freezing..................

Hi, I'm a 49 yr old with erbs in right arm. Yes, I have always had very tight muscles in my neck and limited ability to turn my head (both directions, but harder to turn to the left). This is especially frustrating when driving.

I've just been diagnosed with arthritis in my neck, since pain began last summer which would not go away. I'm currently using ibuprofin (600 mgs. - the only med which seems to work at all). Tried physical therapy for over ten weeks in Aug.-Oct., but no lasting results. They were amazed at how tight my neck was, and said the therapy only had limited results because of the massive BPI at birth.

I just went to a rheumatologist last week who consulted with a neurologist and set me up to have an MRI performed next Wednesday. I'll let you know the results.

Hi Bill

Let us know how you make out with the MRI... I had an open one a few years ago...

One of the things that you should remind the person who reads your mri is that you have Obstetricial Brachial Plexus Injury... it seems after I had mine I was told that I should have said something before???? He thought they were just looking at the Arthritis...

I just had cervical spine x-ray for that and have not gotten the reports yet and the Orthopedist had my shoulder x-rayed to see how my joint is formed.

It seems if you say to anyone Erb's Palsy... they don't recognize it... But they do Brachial Plexus injury.

Kath

Hi all,

Just got the results of the MRI yesterday from the rheumatologist I've been seeing and I have a herniated disk in my neck on the affected side near where it joins with the shoulder. So back for more PT with traction this time, and two new meds for the pain.

He also set up an appointment with a neurologist and suggested I see a neurosurgeon for a consultation. He thinks the OBPI will be a significant complication if I need surgery. And he thinks this condition has something to do with the weakness and loss of muscle in my unaffected arm.

BTW, Kath, I'm in Morris County, NJ, and they're pretty "with it" around here as far as knowledge of Erbs Palsy goes. Not saying that all the doctors I've seen know everything about it but they've all heard of it at least. The guy I'm seeing now seems very knowledgeable, and more than willing to confer with another doctor, which impresses me. I'll keep you informed how this develops.

Bill

Hello, I am new to this. I am 44 years old, and have Erb's Palsy. My left arm, basically just hangs there!
my shoulder is sloped, and in comparison to my right shoulder, its non-existant. I too, have had many problems with my neck it is very tight and sore on the injured side. However, from all of the overwork of the right side, it has also been affected.

Basically, I've learned to live with it. When it starts to effect my daily routine - the orthopedic surgeon I see, will inject my cervical spine with a
steroid. It usually helps take the edge off..

I was surprised and happy to find this site. I never knew there were others out there willing to share their stories, and boy, oh boy, I'm sure we all have them.

Thank-You

I am a right BPI since birth. Well as I read this I tested myself on neck stiffness. I never noticed anything other than my slumping shoulder. I just thought I was a stiff person since I haven't exercised in a while.
As for sleeping I try to sleep on my left uneffected side, however I wake up on my right which feels sort of like my arm is folded under me. It's very uncomfortable. Sometimes I wake up and it's under me and I can't get it out. Anyone have there good arm fall asleep? Now that's a reality check for ya.