United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Two months ago I had surgery for bpi done by Dr. Kline in La. I now have a problem with blood flow to my hand . My fingers are twice their normal size and very stiff. Has anyone elce had this problem and what should I do? I have quite a bit of pain in this hand now where as before surgery my hand was in good shape

Hey Tommy. I have a similiar problem with my bpi hand. I dont wear a sling or wear it in my pocket, it just hangs there so I am guessing that mine is from the blood running down to the finger tips and having no way of coming back up, like with a normal arm. My physio had advised me to carry around a small foam ball and just squeeze it now and again to help send the blood back up the arm, I have great hand function on my inured side. It was helpful but honestly it was a pain in tha arse to carry the ball all day. Have you checkedinto a lymphodema (sp?) program at all? That might be of some help too! Best of luck to you Tommy and hope this helps!

Court xo

What does Dr. Kline say about it?

Thanks,

Ellen

ive got the same problem here, try to keep up with stretches and massage the hand from the fingertips back toward your arm, this helps the fluid flow because youre muscles no longer "pump" the blood back with natural movement.. the pain didnt start for me until about a month after the injury, i also had surgery and it didnt seem to affect it one way or another, im wondering how long post injury you had your surgery
--eric

I had the surgery seven months after I hurt my arm. I am eight weeks post surgery. I have had an enormous amount of pain and have lost movement in my arm as well as my hand,they said this was normal.I started PT two weeks ago so it is too early to tell if I'll get any better but so far it's been hell.

I had surgery seven months after my injury.I am now eight weeks post surgery and started PT two weeks ago.I have lost most of the movement which I had gained after the injury but they said this was normal.I have had a tremendous amount of pain,hand feels like it's been diped in boiling oil.Still too early to tell if surgery has done any good.Kline said it could take up to three years to know. Thanks for your reply. T.D.

Kline said"We do get a little puffey don't we" that's all he had to say about the hand.