United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hi everyone this is Andre again. I'd just like to know how people with these nerve avulsions are coming around now. How well the surgeries worked & what you are able to do now that you previously could not do.

Anyways, I'm having my c7 cross-neck surgery on May 17th. It's supposed to get me deltoid to work & I already had an operation to get my bicep to work.

Hello~
I am a C5,6 and 7 avulsion. Mayo clinic patient. I had a muscle transfer to give me the ability to bend my arm at the elbow, I have a full working hand. I've had implants put in to "fill out" my arm and shoulder. I was there last yr and they talked about doing more muscle and tendon transfers but I choose not to do it. Good luck to you-
Kathleen H

What do you mean by "fill out"? Something with Muscle atrophy? Oh yea and I have one more question. What are the long term affects of bpi? Does the arm get noticably smaller in circumference?

Yes, it does. I think you learn to appreciate that it works. I think the only thing you wish for it is a working arm.

That what works?

A working am isn't even on my list- I just want the pain to go away. We are all different in what we want and hope for.

Hi~
Those last few responses were confusing???
you asked about the implants to "fill out" my arm? My arm got thin very quickly. I had my muscle transfer 5 months from the time of my injury and then I recovered and did PT for 7 months before I went to have expanders (to stretch my skin) put in and they made an implant. Its still in the works, Mayo wants to use a different type of material for the implant that is weightless. Fighting gravity is tough, it keeps slipping off of my shoulder. If your interested I can give you the name of my doctor, he's the only one I know of that does this type of work w/ BPI. And I've seen ALOT of doctors. My injury is 17 yrs old. I was 17 yrs old when it happened.
Kathleen H

hey i had c5 c6 c7 avulision and had an intercostal nerve graft surgery but still waitin to see i do have a little movment in my shoulder but not much

Is there anyway to prevent my arm from getting too thin without implants or a surgical operation?

Yeah. Some times I say the same thin. I can live w/o using my arm, but please pain go away.