United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I am wondering if other people have these symptoms from their BP injury. My chest wall symptoms are at times quite severe. My surgeon explains that it is from the nerve that drops down from the plexus and into the rib cage. I am wondering if others of you have this same problem? What have you done about it? Also the swallowing and pain into the face can be from nerve irritation. I get the impression that the majority of people with BPI are much more disabled than I am. I am wondering what is the range of disability? From total loss of the use of your arm and pain, to chronic irritation and pain, without nerve damage or muscle wasting, like myself. The controversy seems to be "when to intervene with surgery", and when to just manage the symptoms with PT and drugs. Any thoughts? I have a surgeon who says he can remove the adhesions that are "trapping the nerve in the plexus", but all other surgeons disagree with him. I am having a hard time knowing how to make this decision. Has anyone else been in this boat before? Or was your injury so extreme that a surgury was obviously required? This surgeon is currently doing a research project and I would hate to become his guina pig!

Thanks,
Flowerchild