United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

my son, peyton, is 4. recently, he's started complaining about everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, feeling uncomfortable. i know at this age, whining is natural, but does anyone else's bpi children have any particular touch sensitivity? when he was an infant, he preferred bumpy-type material. is it possible that his shoulder with the bpi is more sensitive? because his shoulder still droops, his shirts fall lower on that shoulder and it drives him, and anyone around him, crazy. HELP!!

I have the same problem with my bpi. My arm is really sensitive. Some days are worse than others. With my arm, I found it's less painful when I have something wrapped snuggly around it. At first I tried wrapping my arm with an elastic wrap. This seemed to help since my shirt sleeve wasn't brushing against it, but the wrap kept coming undone. Finally I learned some bicyclists wear spandex or lycra arm warmers. These work really well except it hurts when its pulled off. I'm not sure if they are available in childrens sizes, though. I hope this helps.
Roy

I am adult/obpi - and I hate anyone to tap me on that arm. I can't describe the feeling... it just really annoys me and sometimes I get a shock. There are some spots on my back near my scapular that could send me up the wall when I was a child even with just a simple tap on the back. I just did not want anyone to touch that side because it was physically uncomfortable. A tap could send shock type feelings right down into the palm of my hand. As a child I got annoyed and complained but I think my family thought I was over reacting because even a gentle touch could provoke a reaction from me.

I hate tight clothing... I hated tags... rough material seams that scratch... I must have driven my poor Mother crazy... yup I did…

I never mentioned any of these things to anyone until I found ubpn. I did not know how to describe my reaction. It feels good to know its bpi not just me acting like the "Princess and the Pea" sometimes my Mom told me I was like that princess LOL I was amazed at how comfortable my children were with clothing and wondered why I was annoyed by certain fabrics and the way things fit (because I was always irritated by such silly things) now I know why.

I hope this help a little to know that it is not just Peyton who complains about being touched. Some times it was worse than others, I think growing and hormone changes etc affected it. Now I understand why I “over-react” to touch on that side and can tell people not to touch my arm and feel comfortable saying it.

My husband has a habit of touch my arm when he talks to me... sometimes I just glare at him when he does because I expect him to know better after all these years... and sometimes he still responds "I hardly even touch you geeeezzzz... but I get really uncomfortable and don't want anyone to touch my arm because it is hyper sensitive and I hate that feeling.

Kath

yes my son has always been sensetive, but he can't feel things that in his hand until his surgery last year.

some times his dull pain and grumpy arm, just causes frustration, moodyness, and anger management problems, sometimes we deal with down right unbearable pain. We have found help though, and brushing, and sensory techniques have helped alot, as well as cranial sacral work by his OT>

Hope you will work though this, it just takes time to find things that help our kids are all so different.
Chin up! I know how hard it is sometimes! just take it a day at atime

Mike is 11.

OH YEAH, IS HE GROWING? we find Mike has alot more senory issues acouple of weeks before and during his growth periods

Is there anything an occupational therapist can do for this? I know there are some therapies available for "sensory intergration disorder" which can involve similar feelings. For Sophie, our therapist gave us a soft brush (kind of like a vegetable scrubber - but with very, very soft bristles) that she liked for us to brush her arm with. I think Sophie's problem was less sensation as opposed to hyper sensation, but still I think there are therapies both ways. (Yeah, I really sound like I know what I'm talking about!) Hope this helps.
Tina

Rosalynn has had issues with this a couple of times. We did brushing with her nightly to try to desesitize her. It helped A LOT. She went from fighting every time we touched her to doing the brushing on herself. We would sing or read while we did it and it had a very calming effect on her. We would use one of those poffy bath srubbies, a softh fingernail brush, or a little peice of velvety material. We would change as we went through the time each night.

My daughter is almost 21 months old and has started complaining alot about her arm. She is always saying it hurts and touching herself under her arm pit. I guess it is part of the course.

Tracey

How funny is this! Mr Hems had not heard of this and i was just sayin to Anna the other week how i had never heard of anyone with an oversensative arm! ha and hear u are!

I HATE this part of my arm! I squirm thinkin of my dads stubly chin anywhere near the top of my arm...it is soooo painful! EUGH! if i touch that part of my arm i do it with the back of my hand bcos its softer but the finger prints of my fingers are horrible on it!

So therapy for this? REALLY! does it work? oh i would love that!

Well im glad there are others out there like moi!


Michelle x