United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I am ROBPI I use to get shocks and pain on the right side but over the last ten year my left "unaffected arm" is horrible...

I was just wondering what others do for their "unaffected arm" once you have already damaged it from over use?

I have had PT --- till I am so tired of it --- even though it helped...

I tried all sort of rubs... changed the way I use my arms and hands... and now my neck on the "unaffected side is so painful... so what is next???

The ortopedist gave me Relafan... 750 to start with that worked then he lowered the dosage to 500 that did nothing... then he dropped my insurance...LOL.. so now I have to start over...

OK... I am venting to you guys you know how hard it is to get someone to pay attention to this old injury... its sometimes like it never happened....

Any else take relafen (sp)
kath

Kath,
I don't think there is an answer. Awareness is probably the best solution to Dr's taking notice of us old folks-- but I can't get the Dr's of the here's some vioxx--it shouldn't hurt. You've had it all your life-kick. My unerbs arb hurs more than the other one. It also gets weak and tremory. If we could get a reseach study done on long term effects--there would be professional medical documentation out there. Wish I had an answer. Pat

Kath: I'm been lucky not to have the overuse issues that you and others are experiencing although my physician has told me to expect them sometime in the future. I wonder if my work as an engineer has been a factor because my unaffected arm was not exposed to heavy day to day use. However, I played softball for many years but stopped when I reached 50 because of concern of wear and tear on my left shoulder. The pain that I had then went away and has not returned. I experienced a continous dull ache pain in the ROBPI a couple of years ago that lasted for several weeks. My physician was unable to come up with a good diagnosois other than muscle inflamation. That pain also went away and hasn't returned so far.

John P.

Kath

I agree with Pat. I don't think there is an answer. If so, not one in particular?? The clue here is "once you have already damaged it". I think the solution is to try NOT to do that, even tho we all know that that is next to impossible. Which brings us back to your original question. HAHAHA See the endless silly cruel circle here????

I have also done PT till i can't even say the word! Tried every rub,creme,exercise and pill (i think). The only thing that seems to keep my arms in check is to do as little as possible in the way of strenuous or repetitive activity. This in itself leads to another dilemma, which is boredom. There is only so much "non" activity I can do before I finally say screw it and do something adventurous like carry the laundry basket upstairs, or the garbage pail down. Hence the shoulders scream again, and I start all over.

Can I join you in that vent??
Having her own pity party,
T.

P.S. tried relafen (long ago) did nothing.........

You are all in trouble!

I was thinking again!

It seems to me that most men do not report overuse on the unaffected side because they choose professions that do not require them to participate in repetitive motions.

Now the "girls" are another story - I could be wrong but we do laundry --- reaching in and out of the machines with laundry - cooking chores - and 90% of the housework these taskes take a toll on our shoulders which I might ask are not as strong as male shoulders. Many of us are parents already and that also adds to the damage - I had three huge babies and the kids were all over 25 lbs by one year of age so I was picking up and picking up...

Most woman had jobs that required them to do repetitive work and lifting nursing - secretarial etc this also required moving of files and papers and typing etc on top of the normal household tasks.

Could that be the reason why men seem to report less damage to the unaffected arm?????

Now don't get insulted! I told you I was just thinking about it.

It could just be that you have bigger stronger arms and shoulders to begin with and they are less likely to be damaged.

Tina thanks for the vent. Sorry the arm hurts from laundry I know just where you are coming from.
I hate to be bored and I hate to sit around and everything I like to do requires use of arms and HANDS... some times I think when I get older I might end up a paperweight if my legs go like all the other old ladies... LOL... I guess I just won't work anymore

Yikes even dust bunnies are heavy these days...

Kath

At what age does overuse become a problem? My son is 10 and often complains of shocking pain in his left obpi but warm water and massage stops it for now he also has to see a chiro for neck and shoulder pain this is for his affected side but in school has to take breaks from writing due to cramping in his unaffected hand is this the start and is there any prevention thanks Mare

Laundry bothers me more than anything else. Sheets--especially. Now I tend to put the same sheets back on the bed. Saves me from trying to fold them.Pat

Now that's not completely true.
I've worked my A** off on repetitive motion jobs...Surveyor...swingin' a Bush axe...OUCH.
For real though, I have severe tendonitis in my right elbow. I've found that if I use a little strap made to relieve tennis elbow pain, I don't even notice that I'm damaging my good arm.
I think someone should put a bunch of OBPI/TBPI folks on 'Survivor', we'd show'um how it's done.