United Brachial Plexus Network

I just wanted to wish you the best of luck! Also, don't forget you can always get a 2nd opinion on any surgery that may be suggested. It's an important decision and it may be worth the additional hassle. Just a thought......

Hi Tom, Thanks for the thoughts. I think you're correct and hope that others do read some of the posts and can retrieve anything that may be helpful or can provide any thoughts in return. For me its a bit of a moving target where the muscles are constantly waxing and waning, building and atrophy. It...

Hi Tom, You have a great attitude. I try hard and I know its a challenge for everyone and read some amazing articles here. I know that a big smile would go a lot further at work or anywhere, rather than a complaint, if the pain was up. Sometimes its really hard. When I could I would take a short wal...

Appreciate the thoughts and suggestions! I get some help by using a hard ball for the trigger points which I get in the back of my shoulder. Ice provides some help too. My hats off to you for working through it and driving a truck through it all. Truly an inspiration. Its a battle that's for certain...

Hey Tom, Sorry to hear that you're having so much trouble with your "good arm". It seems like a lot of people say the same thing and it makes sense. My doctor who did the surgery said swim, swim, swim for therapy. I never did too much. The first several years I could barely use it after th...

Hey Tom, Anything I can share that may help makes me feel a little better. My condition may be different but has some similarities you've explained. How did you figure out the blood pressure was different in one arm vs the other? Just a regular cuff style test at the docs office? That's amazing. One...

Tom, The arm has three major nerves running down to the hand from the brachial plexus. The ulnar, radial and median. If you have movement in your thumb I believe that is one specific nerve. One of the nerves controls the ring and middle finger and the other controls the ring finger and pinky. It can...

I don't have a problem with my elbow but I'm sorry to hear about yours. Do you have any use of any of the muscles in your arm, hand or shoulder? I know that my biggest problem is although, I have half decent use of my arm it gets weak very quickly and it seems like the weight on my shoulder ( and th...

I just wanted to share this suggestion for those who are not aware of the software but I use this product frequently. This is a software that allows you to speak into your computer to do the typing for you. Fortunately, I was able to get an early version and although it didn't work too well back in ...

I agree, I have found massage to help quite a bit however, many states do not pay for massage and you have to pay out-of-pocket. Have you tried ultrasound? I have found that to help with spasms quite a bit. I too suffer from excruciating pain and the best relief is to immobilize my neck and arm layi...