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I HAVE BPI HAVE A QUESTION
Posted: Mon May 16, 2005 11:52 am
by Rahz
I have BPI since birth now I'm 26 yrs old. I do experience slight pain at times in the wrist. I can move my arm about 30 percent now. When I get older will I start to feel more pain in my arm and have less movement?
Re: I HAVE BPI HAVE A QUESTION
Posted: Mon May 16, 2005 9:42 pm
by CyndiAnn
Hi Ratz!
I'm 50 & have had ROBPI since birth. I was about your age when I started having tendonitis in my right wrist and fingers. I never really "babied" my hand & was able to put up with the discomfort. As I got older, however, the pain seemed to last longer & get stronger. I continued to use my hand as normally as I could, thinking that if I kept using it, I would strengthen it.
I know that everybody's injury is a little different. My biggest problem now is that my left arm & hand is suffering from "over-use". I also have more pain in my right shoulder & lower back.
My best advice is to keep using your OBPI hand as much as you can. You will strengthen the injured hand & save your good hand from "over-use". Most of us "Erbys" have a pretty high tolerance for pain.
I don't know if this really helps. I'm sure that there are many others on the board who will also share their personal experiences.
Good Luck to you. Stay positive!
Cyndi
Re: I HAVE BPI HAVE A QUESTION
Posted: Tue May 17, 2005 12:31 pm
by jep98056
Rahz:
I am 65 and have a ROBPI. I have good use of my hand and wrist but limited use of my arm and shoulder. I have been relatively pain free over the years and have maintained about the same range of movement (I can raise my right arm to about head level). However, I have recently noticed a moderate decline in strength and some soreness in the affected shoulder especially if I have been actively using my right arm. I am currently getting some PT help with the objective of maintaining strength level.
I agree with Cyndi. Try to keep using your BPI arm as best you can. Also, if you can, see a BPI medical professional on a regular basis. It seems like the medical profession tends to help BPI's achieve the best recovery possible in the growing years and then turn us loose. I think BPI's would benefit from long term advice and care as adults also.
John P.