United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I know this question has been asked a million times, but I'll try one more time. I'm making appointments to see the "big 3" Dr. Nath, Mayo Clinic, Dr Kline/Tiel, in reference to my 21 yr old son left BPI from car accident 12/19/03. I would love and appreciate any information or advice concerning the three doctors or anyone else I should consider. Please tell me the extent of the injury and the extent of the recovery if any. I'm just starting the process and feel that I'm making decisions on emotion and "gut feeling instead of logic and information. Thanks for any help

Oh my God! You have asked a very hard question.My surgeons are Nath and Shenaq, but how can I say they are better or than the others when they didn't do anything to me. What I am trying to say is that I don't think you will go wrong with the top Doctors. God bless you and I hope you can make a decision asap. I remember it was hard for me and my husband to take one.

It isn't easy finding a doctor who truly understands the issues faced by adult injured, which are very different from those that the babies face. My research showed that Dr Nath was well known for work with injured babies but had limited experience with injured adults compared to Mayo or Drs Kline and Tiel. If you can, it's better to see a doctor whose main interest is adult onset bpi, there is no substitute for experience. Ask all 3 what their protocol is about long term pain and how long they have followed the adults they have worked on. This is in no way a criticism of any doctor, just sensible advice.
Good luck, it's a difficult choice.

Maybe the guest is right, but is very hard to make a decision when you have so little time. I would make appointments with the 3.

Hi Steve, If you're coming to the picnic you should be able to see Dr Nath and that may help you with him. He took care of my daughter's tbpi and she's 23. all of the drs are great. You just have to do the research and resource checks, talking and listening and gathering all the info you can and then you can use your guy instinct to decide what you want to do or where you want to go. My daughter has improved greatly from her surgery with Nath. These boards are full of info and folks willing to help you but they can't give you your answers....that's up to you...make sure you research the drs. My daughter had no movement or feeling in her dominant hand/arm from her accident and the guy we were seeing in the beginning said she may as well cut it off and that's when she made up her mind to research the injury and found the boards and is so thankful. Her first surgery was done in Louisville-nerve transfer from ankle to neck to hold shoulder in socket..2nd surgery done September 03 in Houston-did an emg while bicep open and found some life and connected the median nerve to it somehow and now has some movement,with lots of pt, exercise on her own, and no longer wears a sling but a supination strap. Dr could not promise us anything but it was worth the try. He says this should take about 14 mos total but we have already seen improvement...she has an app't w/dr in Florida. Any questons, feel free to e mail me back. All these drs are great...you just need to see who is for you and so forth...Good luck with your decision because it's not an easy one..........

If you don't mind can you tell me what type of injury your daughter had? What exercises des she do own her own?

Thanks,

Susana

Thanks for all the advice, A new player has entered the game, anyone know anything about a Dr. Julia Terzis outof the University of Eastern Virginia??

her injury is a r tbp from a car accident. The exercises that she does at home, along with the tes and nmes daily, are basically rom...sometimes in the lazyboy and sometimes on the flat bed or floor. She keeps very busy at it. any other questions, feel free to ask................Shelley

Hi Steve...can't comment on the Drs you mentioned as I have had no personal experience with them (I'm in the U.K.) All I can do is to strongly advise you to take a written list of questions to ask each of the Drs. Go well prepared because if you are anything like me, some of the questions go right out of your head once you are face to face with the Dr.

Also, take another person along, as well as your son, who can take notes for you; it's amazing how many answers slip the memory once you leave the Drs office. Reading the threads on here (if you have a few hours to spare!) will give a good insight into what questions to ask; try the 'surgery, has anyone had any success?' thread, http://ubpn.org/messageboard/thread ... hread=1635
and the 'need help' thread http://ubpn.org/messageboard/thread ... hread=4676

A very useful resource on this site is the medical resources directory (if you haven't already seen it)http://ubpn.org/medicalresources/ This will show you the questions each Dr was asked before being included in the directory. It also indicates which Drs have had the most experience in treating adults with a TBPI which I personally feel is the most important factor.

Don't worry too much about your emotional and gut feelings getting in the way of logic...this is only natural and to be expected. It can be a very emotional journey for a parent who only wants to do the very best for their son or daughter. You will know when you have made the right decisions...

Good luck and let us know how you get on. If I can help in any way at all, please feel free to email me; liz@tbpi-group.org

Best wishes
Lizzy B

Hi
I have heard of Julia Terzis - she was one of only 2 female surgeons I saw at the international symposia of BPI surgeons in Paris in 2002
One of our leading surgeons in the Uk had good things to say about her - other than that I am unable to comment - but she was with ALL the "Big Wigs" ( as we call them!) at the symposia, so she must know something about bpi.
Good Luck
Karen