United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hi. I am considering this treatment for Abrielle.
Anyone have information? Lisa
I went to Acupuncture.com...and did a search for brachial plexus, and they didn't mention it as a birth injury, but there were three references to treatment of the brachial plexus.
Thanks!

Hi Lisa - as with any other modality whether western or eastern the most important factor is going to be the person doing the acupuncture. Of course they are probably not going to know too much about bpi (unless they already have a client with it) and you'll have to educate them - which is fine. They will be assessing your daughter based on oriental diagnosis which is pulse diagnosis, tongue diagnosis, facial diagnosis, and hara diagnosis (stomach).

My suggestion to you is that you find a practitioner and you go get acupunctured yourself and bring Abrielle with you. If you don't like the practitioner you will know at that visit or the next visit.... you will know just by how they insert the needles... whether they are compassionate or whether they are die-hards (longer needles, heftier insertions). If that one does't work out, then you try again. Try to find someone that has experience with children.

You will know when you find the right "match". That person will be someone that when you think about going for acupuncture you will be excited and not feel the dread in your stomach...lol lol.

Abrielle will know when she's ready to begin. But I think it's a great idea to have you be the guinea pig first until you find the right person and then let Abrielle take her time. She has to really be into it and accepting of the concept before she will obviously allow anyone to stick needles into her. You also don't want to traumatize her with this.

I have a wonderful acupuncturist and I do trust him ver much but there are some days he does the insertions just great and there are some days it all hurts. It's important NOT to drink coffee, regular tea or eat sugar the day you get needled. Well - try this as an experiment and you will see what I mean!!

good luck and when you find someone great, let us know ok?

-francine

Lisa,
I would strongly recommend acupuncture. We found a great acupuncturist in our area. We brought Matthew to him when he was four months old and had no movement at all and his right arm was colder than the left. He treated an adult with tbpi before.
After the first visit Matthew's hands were the same temp. Shortly after that finger/wrist movement came in. During our clinic visit before surgery the docs thought he only had slight damage to C7&8 because his finger/wrist movement was great. Well turns out once he was in surgery they found out that he had a huge neuroma on those nerves and couldn't explain how he was moving anything. That was great for us to hear!!! They said in all the years they have been doing the surgery they have never seen a child capable of movement with a neuroma even half that size. C5 was ruputred and they said it had the longest piece of growth they have ever seen as well. For us acupuncture was a great experience.
Good luck.

Wow!!!!!! Thanks Francine and MaryMom!!!!!!!Wow! Wow! Wow!!! That is awesome about Matthew!!!! Francine that is exactly my thinking, I am going in for six visits for myself, and then we'll see. The woman I am using is a referral from a great trustworthy friend, who is very well educated and compassionate, so I know it's a good board certified acupuncturist. So, that's a start. I will be pleased to be the guinea pig, heck, I'd give my daughter my right arm if I could as I am sure everyone else here would as well. I can't wait!!!! I'm really excited about this! Thanks for the info ladies!!!! I'd love to hear more!!!!
LisaMyers

Wow!!!!!! Thanks Francine and M&Mom(oops, sorry, I put MaryMom on the other post!)!!!!!!!Wow! Wow! Wow!!! That is awesome about Matthew!!!! Francine that is exactly my thinking, I am going in for six visits for myself, and then we'll see. The woman I am using is a referral from a great trustworthy friend, who is very well educated and compassionate, so I know it's a good board certified acupuncturist. So, that's a start. I will be pleased to be the guinea pig, heck, I'd give my daughter my right arm if I could as I am sure everyone else here would as well. I can't wait!!!! I'm really excited about this! Thanks for the info ladies!!!! I'd love to hear more!!!!
LisaMyers

Lisa,
We take Matthew to a variety of treatments. If you ever have any questions please contact me at cpfranklin@psualum.com

Cindy