United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Last month my 33 year old daughter had her brachial nerve severed by mistake in surgery. The nerve was repaired but I am not clear as to the recovery time. The neurosurgeon said the nerve grows at 1/2" per month and that full recovery might be from 1 to 3 years. She has 3 year old twin boys and this is been very difficult. Can anyone out there explain to me exactly what 1/2" per month means. Will she get some movement from her dead arm as the nerves attached or can we expect a long painful recovery. Any input about TBPI recovery would be greatly appreciated.

Rich

Hey Rich, this is a complicated injury so I will try my best to explain it as easily as possible. The 1/2 inch a month deal means.... from where the nerve(s) were reattached or graphed together, the nerve has to grow from that point all the way down to the end. When the nerve is severed, it dies almost instantly.(ex. if the nerve is cut in the neck area and reattached, it must regrow down to the finger tips) Think of a nerve as a cord, the outer tubing can be reatched but the inner wires have to regrow. When they are reattached, the outer tube is just giving directions for the inner wires to travel. see how the time frame can vary? The arm can be 12 inches which would mean about 6 inches per year. Some people grow fasters, otheres slower, this is just an average rate of growth. This is my understanding of this, if anyone can help, please jump in.

The recovery all depeds onth eperson and the body and how it repairs itself. I am 3 years into this and have great hand/ wrist function but not much else, just kind of a dead arm. Therapy has helped me to be where I am today so has a great attitude and outlook! The regenerating of the nerves and muscles can be the most painful thing in the world, I wont lie there. I still have pain, people who are in the is 20+ years still get pain, I really think it never goes away! It gets more bearable to deal with. Try a pain doctor, they have helped some a great deal.

What is your daughter doing in the mean time? Therapy? Swimming? Shrink? These things are a rgeat deal of help for me even today!

Best of luck! Let us know how things are coming along! Feel free to ask all questions! Thats what we are hear for!!!!!

COurt xo

Thanks for your reply. It looks like she will have a long and painful recovery. She is trying to deal with the pain and is going to a pain doctor and also gets physical therepy twice a week. She pretty much has wrist and finger movement and is gaining strenth in those areas daily. But the arm is dead. If it is 32" from her neck to her finger tips than are you saying that recovery may take 5 years. Is their partial recovery sooner like from the elbow first? Looking forward to your reply.

Rich

Thanks for your reply. If it is 6" to the elbow does that mean she will have some movment there in about a year or does it have to travel all the way to the finger tips to get any movement at all?

Rich

Thanks for your reply. If it is 6" to the elbow does that mean she will have some movment there in about a year or does it have to travel all the way to the finger tips to get any movement at all?

Rich

Hi Richard

...just to add to what Courtney has posted; which nerve was repaired and how? Did you daughter have a nerve graft or transplant? which muscle is it going to reinnervate? The regain in function can vary so much, timewise, depending on which nerve/muscle has been treated.

In a severe BPI where most if not all the nerves of the BP are involved, the surgeons usually go for repairing the nerve that innervates the biceps, which will eventually give back elbow movement. I had what is known as an intercostal nerve graft to the median nerve and this gave me back elbow flexion. Since the intercostals are the nerves that innnervate the muscles between the ribs, it was a fairly quick (in BPI terms anyway!)result...nine(ish) months after the surgey, I felt flickers in the muscle and slowly built up to a full elbow bend. 9 months = around 4 1/2 inches which is about the right distance from the top rib, around under the arm to the top of the bicep. Is this what your daughter has had done?

It must be very difficult with this injury and 3 year old twins...I have 5 year old grandchildren and know how hard it was at 3 years of age even with able-bodied parents...I do feel for her and wish her all the best...let us know how she gets on...

Lizzy B

I feel for your daughter and your family. I also have a 7 month daughter. I got into a car accident while pregnant. I has been very dificult, but I have kind of learned to live with the problem and the terrible pain.
I also never give up that one day I will be better. God bless you and your family.