United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I had 5000 rads of cobalt 23 years ago for treatment of
a small malignant tumor on my tongue. It damaged nerves in C5, C6, and C7. Numbness, weakness and tingling has slowly progressed to 98% loss of use of left arm, hand, and fingers. Have constant intense tingling, atrophy of rotator cuff muscles, and fingers and complete numbness now. Same symptoms started in right hand two years ago and is slowly progressing. I am 75 years old. Has anyone ever heard of BPI from radiation damage? Can anyone recommend a doctor in the Chicago area?

Mary Jane

I looked this up on the web because I was searching for viral cause of bpi and I came across this information on Radiation this is a great website for all sorts of information on bpi in general...

http://www.emedicine.com/PMR/topic121.htm

The above is the page for Radiation induced Brachial Plexopathy.

I hope this helps with information for you...

Take care
Kath

I am so sorry that you are having to suffer with BPI, and yes, radiation can definitely cause it. My mother-in-law had breast cancer and then 5 yrs later it came back under her collarbone and was inoperable and she had radiation to shrink it, which it did, but also caused alot of BPI damage.

I do know that the Mayo clinic in Rochester has a BPI clinic, and that is not too far from Chicago, but you may find others even closer.

Good Luck in your reasearch on this!

Mary Jane,
I am too sorry to hear about your BPI! We know first hand what you are talking about, dealing with, and going through! Thats what we are here for. Check ouir medical directory. There are many great doctors listed there.
http://ubpn.org/medicalresources/
Good luck and keep us informed!
Courtney

Hi Mary Jane-I replied to your earlier thread but it scrolled off page pretty fast-here it is again in case you missed it. http://ubpn.org/messageboard/thread ... hread=6787
Take care & let us know how things go :0)