United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hi my name is Andre and I'm 16 years old. This is my 7th week with BPI. During therapy a week ago I was not able to move my arm to the right when it was on a table, but during class today I put a lot of energy and decided to give it a try. At first I barely moved it across the desk, but I was so encouraged to keep on trying. Now I could do it fairly easily.

I can move my fingers down, but not up. The same with my wrist. I can wiggle my forearm also. Does this mean that my nerves are not torn?

Andre,
This sounds like great progress! Im not sure what it means but keep working it out... could be just stretches to the nerves and no avulsions! That would be great! Keep us posted!
Courtney

If they were torn or avulsed you couldn't move anything. Anyways, you need to go to a BPI specialist to inform better about this problem. I hope everything comes back with therapy.

I saw a BPI specialist about a week ago, before I was able to move my arm. I forget his name, but he was really nice. He spent about an hour looking at my arm and explaining what could happen. My next appointment is on the 26th of November. Hopefully, by then, I could make some more progress. I've adapted really well with using one arm, so the depression I had early on has sort of dissapeared.

I'm also worried my arm is going to become stiff. It hurts around my armpit when I strech my arm back.

You hdo your have to do your ROM excercises and massage.

Has anyone you know ever fully recovered from TBPI?

Hi Andre,

Congrats on your progress. Your progress has been faster than mine but sounds similar. I don't have any avulsions. I had some bad stretches - the first nerves to come back were ulnar and medial which meant some hand movement and bicep. I also have only flexion at the wrist and first joint of the fingers. These motions are controlled by the radial nerve. I had surgery to remove scar tissue on it and since then have tri-cep (back of arm) return. Hopefully the regeneration will continue down the arm. I also had an axillary nerve transfer (it was severed) - works primarily the deltoid -primary muscle used to lift the arm up and to the side- too early to know if it was successful. Am waiting on one more surgery since the subscapular nerve isn't showing signs of regeneration - infraspinatus and supraspinatus - located in the back but work external rotation of the arm. Anyways, the reason I went into all this detail is to show that there is hope but it will take time and hard work on your part. Also don't assume because there are no avulsions doesn't mean that everything will heal on its own - you may need surgical intervention. My nerve was severed even though the mri didn't show it. Its great you are seeing a bpi specialist and that you are educating yourself on the injury. The more you and your parents know the better you'll be able to judge the care you are receiving. I wish I had gotten into a specialist earlier. They say greatest chance of success with surgery is if it is done in the first six months. Good luck to you.

Do you guys wear slings and splints? I haven't wore a sling the last few days, and decided to just to let my arm drop annd just wear a splint. I'm considering not wearing a splint either, because my wrist feels a lot "stiffer" when i keep it out of a splint. It makes my hand feel like jello when I take it out of it. The only thing is im a afraid i'll bump my wrist somewhere and hurt it bad.

Oh my gosh, until you mentioned it I completely forgot about the splint I wore on my wrist. That was sercurity blanket. I wore that thing forever. I use to put powder in it cause my hand would sweat so bad it started to smell. I wore my sling for about three months, right up until my first surgery and come to think of it, I also wore the splint on wrist until then, too, Then it was recovery and surgeries until then, after my 1st surgery I never went back to my sling or splint. Wear it if you feel safe. What ever makes you most comfortable. I'm still scared to this day I'll burn, slam it or break it on something. I stand with my arms folded all the time. Good luck to you. Kath