United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

How much actual mass is lost? What about bone mass & density? When c5,c6 nerves are avulsed, how much is it affected then? Is there anyway to prevent it? Right now my arms look the same since Sept 6, 2003. But whenever you hold my forearm you can tell that the muscles are much flabbier and are not tight like the other arm.

I think we all lose different amounts of mass depending on our injury. I only have use of biceps but my upper arm looks ok, mainly because of oedema (fluid buildup). My shoulder has no muscle covering on it, you can see the joint itself. No muscles left in lower arm which is very thin.
The muscle wastage happens pretty quickly, my lower arm was stick thin within a couple of months of the injury and what I've read indicates this is the norm in avulsions of the lower plexus. I have read that 70% of the bulk is lost (looks like more in my case) and the bones decalcify and become thinner and more brittle, I've had one break and I know of other tbpi who have had this too. The skin becomes much thinner (I can see blood vessels thru mine). If yours still looks the same maybe those muscles would benefit from passive excercise?? Some people use various forms of stimulation on muscles which still have intact nerves in continuity attached to them, such as electrical stimulation, physiotherapy etc. Check with your doctor what you should be doing to keep the muscles going while you wait for any recovery, are you not doing PT?
Keep us posted with how the recovery is going :0)

Diargiasm, With an avulsed C5, C6 I am really surprised your shoulder isn't a bit wasted. Mine is a stretch and is fairly wasted. You are really lucky to have kept your bulk and as its over a year now it is hardly going to start to waste as the wasting starts immediately.