United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I have a app. with a specialist tomorrow.(Dec 1) if any of you bpi suffers had to start all over again, what would you ask your doc's? Please read Calling Kath to know my story. Thank you for your time
Luke(LOBPI/adult)

Luke,

I would begin by asking him to tell you what is the extent of your injury. Then I'd move into telling him what your current issues are and finding out what movements you are doing that are aggravating the pain you are currently experiencing.

Is there PT or OT that you can do to help? How about a script for some aquatherapy?

You will be able to tell how experienced he is by how well he understands that this injury has both long term effects and that they affect the entire body.

I wish I had known more about movement and balance issues earlier in my life. I would have avoided a lot of the things that I did that brought on pain. We are taught to think 'no pain no gain' and that just doesn't work for those of us with a bpi. We cannot push our weak muscles to overdo, they don't strengthen in the same way that normal muscles do. Instead pushing ourselves can cause harm. On the other hand, we don't want to not use them, or they will grow weaker and contractions can worsen. So the key is the balance.

I know from reading your previous post that you are doing a very physical job, so I would make sure he knows exactly what you are doing on a daily basis.

Hope it goes well. Let us know.

Nancy Birk
UBPN President, LOBPI, 52 years

Thank you for the reply. It was just in time
Luke

Luke, I am thinking about you today. Please let us know how your consultation went.
Hugs,
Carolyn J
Adult LOBPI, age 67 & proud of it!

Hi!
This is erica here, I have a ROBPI. I was reading your last post and was cringing. You probably don't want to hear this, but you really should think about finding a new job in or out of UPS. This one will wear out your good arm. Trust me it's easy to do, try wearing a cast on your good wrist from carpal tunnel surgery for two months).
As for questions to ask, check with the doctor to see how many people with BPI's they have actually operated on, and their success rate.
Think of the pros and cons, like what they think will be the final outcome and any movement you may lose (ie. loss of wrist movement if they hook nerves and tendons to your fingers, bypassing the wrist), also will what you gain in movement be adequate.
Don't be afraid to see other doctors. Find out who all is approved by your provider. It takes a long time to find the right one. It took me about 8 years.
Good luck, try not to get discouraged.
erica

Hi Erica, this post is from 2005... old...
Marieke