United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I apologize for asking about this again but I'm getting really scared. I keep wondering if I'm gonna lose my hand. My accident was Oct. 4 and I don't even go to the doctors office to schedule surgery until Feb. 7. What can I do to save the muscles in my hand??? I do ROM excersises all day everyday. I use a neuromuscular stimulator on my muscles but it does'nt seem to work anywhere on my arm. I'd do anything just to be able to use my hand. I'd go through surgery after surgery if I had to. I would donate organs if I had to. I laugh when I say that but I would do it for my hand. My arm feels like bones with skin around it. What can I do? Thanks for taking the time to read this and thanks to everyone who has helped. There is one person I would like to thank in particular and her name is Francine. She has worked really hard at getting information on Brachial Plexus Injuries to Moms and Dads who's newborn children have a BPI and to people with tramatic injuries as well. She devotes a lot of her time to doing this. Check her website out it's http://www.injurednewborn.com. Please E-mail her and let her know you appreciate her help. There are a lot of people dedicated to this cause so take the time to thank them. Take care.

Allen

Allen, it's only natural you are scared -i was too and i bet there would be something wrong if you weren't concerned about the future after this. In time folks adjust and rehabilitate, recovery or no, but the early days are the scary ones. Is it Dr kline you're seeing in feb?? Whether it is or not, have you tried contacting the guy or his team for advice? What's to lose by making a phone call or sending them email? We're not docs dude just patients who experienced TBPI, but everyone loves to hear good news and i hope you get some after your doc's visit. Keep us posted how you go on and good luck!

Hi Allen,

Please don't feel you have to apologise for asking questions....it's what the boards and we are here for; all of us have been at that scary place where you are now and know what you are going thru...it is hard to try and ease the anxiety without meeting you face to face...do you know any other adult with a bpi? any physiotherapist have other bpi clients that they can put you in touch with? We all know how hard it can be to try to cope with this bpi thing 'specially if you feel isolated as well.

I am a great believer in one-to-one and group support..we had a small group meet up late last year, and everyone there benefitted from the experience, even tho we were all at different stages with the injury. I'm sure they'll back me up on this...! ;0)...keeping busy and trying to steer your mind away from the injury will stop you from counting the days to your Drs. appointment and it seems to me that you are doing all the right things to help stop the muscle loss.

I have just got back from a bpi symposium in Paris where I was allowed to sit in and listen to the surgeons presenting surgical techniques and results (mainly for obpi cases...wasn't allowed in to the tbpi session, but that's another story..!) and the future in this area is looking good, and will also be beneficial for the adult trauma cases like us. Until your Drs. appointment, try (almost impossible I know!!!) not to think about it too much...feel free to email me and I'll help as much as I can.

Liz xx

as liz says, NEVER worry about what you ask-i will not get recovery now so my reason to come here at all is to support others and to tell MY side of the story. all of us can only speak for ourselves and as Dav says we aren't doctors. it's natural you're worrying about seeing Dr Kline but Feb is nearly here and we are looking forward to hearing from u what he says. Whatever recovery you do or don't get, please believe me when i say you will come through this nightmare. seeing an expert will help with that but it's a process we all had to go through and you will get through, however you feel right now. mail me if yu want to (to mail someone just click on their name) and don't worry about what you ask. take care jen nz :0)

Hey Allen, I'm Kathy. I was right where you are one year ago. Things are sooooo much better now, and I am not talking about just physically. I dreaded my visit with the neurologist because I dreaded what he would tell me. He is now my favorite doctor. The truth doesn't hurt soooo much. I just want to validate your feelings. It is OK to feel this way. I felt that way too. Then I got busy and did what I could with my good hand. I can't imagine now why you need two hands to do some things. You are a whole person, believe in yourself, love your self. Like my neurologist told me at that first visit, "just hang in there", we are all rooting for ya.

Come here often, this is a great group of people.

Kathy

Hi Allen. I was right were you are 3.5 years ago. Believe me IT DOES GET BETTER. You won't lose your hand. The dr's main goal is to save your whole limb and help you to regain lost movement. You will have a much better idea of what's going on after you meet Dr Kline. Until then try to sit tight and not worry to much ( impossible I know ). Keep us posted.

Take care, Mike