United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

The last couple of weeks it seems that I'm having more and more pain especially in my affected arm and back. I was wondering if maybe something had aggrivated it.

Also along the same lines can pregnancy aggrivate it?

YES pregnancy can aggravate it. There are many women who while pregnant get pain along their brachial plexus, get impingement throughout the arm (thoracic outlet syndrome) and also carpal tunnel issues. Weather and barometric pressure play a big role as well. Heat helps some. Ice helps others. I remember heating my shoulder and icing my hands. Good luck with your pregnancy.

weather bothers me and also if I am doing too much lifting. I can take heat on my arm but cannot stand cold at all.

I think posture is very important for us to be aware of because we often sit without being aware that we are sitting in poor positions and especially at the computer.

I had major problems with my OBPI arm after my third child and never connected it to OBPI. It lasted for about 8 months and then went back to MY normal.


Kath

Have you had any unusual physical activity? I can expect my affected shoulder to become sore after activities like multiple lifting, several days of skiing, rowing a boat, canoeing, etc. -- anything that puts additional stress on the shoulder. The soreness is particularly noticeable at night trying to sleep. I find that positioning my arm with a pillow helps. Also, over-the-counter anti-inflammatory meds can be helpful.

John P.

John...No unusual activity. Just the normal day stuff. I have no idea what is causing the extra pain unless it's the humidity here. I do know that in another month or so I'll be moving so I'll have more activity then.

I never had a problem with my bpi arm during any of my pregnacies that I can remember. Other than having to argue with the nurses, Drs etc, as to why they couldn't put an IV or take blood presure readings on it.

Kimberly

That is an argument we will always have. I was sleeping and had a big sign over my bed -NO IV and the tech woke me up trying to find a vein.

The last time I was in the hospital the nurses put a red band on my right wrist. That worked out great! I did not have breast surgery and many on the staff were puzzled about the band. I had to explain to all the staff I came in contact with why I had it on. It turned out to be a great educational tool.

Kath
Kath

Uhm..maybe I'm a bit ignorant but why can't they take blood from the affected arm? I mean I know for me I'm hypersensitive and my arm has been known to spasim when they try to take it from that arb but is there other reasons?

Dear Christina "kissygoose",

Please go over to the General Message Board. I just brought back up to the top PRESIDENTS CORNER 2004 & SURGERIES. I believe it will answer some of your questions about no IV and bloodpressure on BPI arm.

I can't recall having any extra aggravation on my bpi arm when I was pregnant. I do recall making extra aggravation for others, however, when I was pregnant

Yes, like the others, extremes in weather do affect me.
Using muscles I'm not used to using can too. For example, if I drive for many hours, holding the bpi arm on the steering wheel, my triceps, which are weak will ache for a couple of days.

Nancy