United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hello everyone...I haven't been to this site in a long time. I was born with a BP injury in the right arm. I have no functions in my arm or hand. Lately, I've had extreme pain in my left shoulder and the pain travels into my left arm. All this overuse is catching up w/ me and I'm only 26!! Has anyone had to have surgery on their non-affected arm? Any related stories you could share? I see a chiropractor once a month, but lately, I've had to go more often and even that isn't helping much. Your input would be much appreciated! Sincerely, Erica

Erica
Nice to see you again but sorry your in pain.

I started to have pain in my unaffected arm in my early twenties. But each time it healed and I never connected to obpi. I never thought of over use or wear and tear on the "good" arm.
I was researching Erb's and I found UBPN. I was worried about losing my good arm. When my unaffected arm was so painful and nothing seemed to help and the doctors were puzzled by my complaints ... only then did I realize that one arm has been doing the work of two for over 60 years. It stands to reason the more long term anyone is with a bpi the more the unaffected arm is compromised. Since your birth injured you arm has had to compensate 26 years already.

I realized now I should have taken better care of my unaffected arm by not trying to prove I could do anything. I was so fiercely independent that I would never let anyone help me.

The only real advice I can give you is to protect your arm. Don't lift heavy objects, don't do repetitive tasks, rest it, maybe massage therapy would help. Make sure that you check your posture and try to sit properly as best you can.

Kath

Kath,

You are SO right on! I try to prove to myself everyday that I can do anything and everything...lifting all the groceries, boxes, and my bowling ball (yes...I know I need to stop)!! Thanks for replying. I just get so scared that something may happen to my good arm. I don't know if I can learn to eat w/ my feet

Erica

Dear Erica

I am deeply sorry for your pain in your normal arm as well as for the gruesome incident(brachial plexus-Birth injury).Since we are in the same boat,i can understand your concern but it is weird that your normal arm had a pain instead of the injured arm because as i have got my left arm injured(OBP).I am 24 and there was no feeling when i was a child but by now i feel even a pain when i excercise it a lot in order to make it a normal one.I can move my fingers,wrist and arm a great deal of but not as nomarly as i can my right arm and hand.I would suggest you to take care of your normal arm by not taking heavy stuff and better try to move your injured arm and use it as possible as you can.if you start using your injured arm you would start feeling a pain too but after some period of time you will see an improvement as well.

Thanks,
jiz

Dear Erica

I am deeply sorry for your pain in your normal arm as well as for the gruesome incident(brachial plexus-Birth injury).Since we are in the same boat,i can understand your concern but it is weird that your normal arm had a pain instead of the injured arm because as i have got my left arm injured(OBP).I am 24 and there was no feeling when i was a child but by now i feel even a pain when i excercise it a lot in order to make it a normal one.I can move my fingers,wrist and arm a great deal of but not as nomarly as i can my right arm and hand.I would suggest you to take care of your normal arm by not taking heavy stuff and better try to move your injured arm and use it as possible as you can.if you start using your injured arm you would start feeling a pain too but after some period of time you will see an improvement as well.

Thanks,
jiz

Good arm--carpal tunnel surgery twice, pronator release once--bone spur removed from finger.
But--hey I'm 50.
For me, I wish I would have been aware of the damage I was doing to my good arm--but on the other hand--I don't think I would have given up all the things I have done in life just to keep some arm function. It's a matter of choice, I guess.
Picking up kids, wiping noses, carrying groceries, traveling ,working. I'ved enjoyed it all.
Wish I had an answer for you. The decisions to modify what you do and how you do them is a really tough choice. Either way us Erbies lose. Our only consolation is that we're the best looking group of people I have ever seen in my life!!!!!!!!!
Pat

Pat

LOL... we are creative too!

Kath