United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

My TBPI was around seven years ago. I fell on ice and had a dislocation/fracture of humerus. The dislocation was disdiagnosed for 24 hours and it pressed on the brachial plexus to cause a severe injury. Totally flaccid arm for around a year. I've had 3 tendon transfers and 1 shoulder surgery. I still have numbness, pain and unable to spread my fingers apart or straighten them. Over the last month I had developed pain in my unaffected arm (hand). The Dr doesn't know if it is residual nerve damage or if it is overcomensation for my left BPI. Has anyone else experienced this?

Thank you
Kathy

In 7 years, this is the third time I have tried to be a part of this group. I ask legitimate questions and there is never a response. This is a very closed group. Why can't new people join in?

Kat

I am the mother of a child with an Obstetrical injury. I have noticed that the Traumatic boards have been a little slow during the week and the weekends are much worse. I am sure that you will get some responses today !!!! Gayle mom of Brandon 8 1/2 ROPBI

HI, and welcome to the boards. I usually find I get more response on the general board. Haven't responded to this question as my sons injury is only 19 mos and he has no pain. He is lucky so far, no pain in either arm so I don't know what to tell you. There are others that may be able to answer you better. Many do have pain in the unaffected arm from overuse do to the injury.
Sue

I would ask for an EMG to be done to see if you have carpel tunnel problems before doing anything else. Having to use the one good hand for nearly everything, this could be the issue.
Wendy

Can you be more specific about your pain. How it feels (throbbing, aching, pinching, pins & needles, burning, flesh being torn off, stabbing, crushing, frying, etc.) How does it compare to the pain you feel in your left BPI arm? This might give more of an indication if it's neuropathic pain or joint orthopedic pain.

Just out of curiosity, because you stated that no one can join in because this is such a closed group, have you tried answering anyone else's questions and helping out yourself? Maybe no one answered your questions because no one had an answer. Just a thought. By the way, I'd give my house and all the money I've ever made to NOT be part of this group! This injury bites!

Kathy, I am sorry we/I have not responded. Sometimes I don't respond because I may not know what to say. However, this time I do.

Yes, I have issues with my right side. My injury is on the left side. Mine is over use issues. It is something that we all have to be very aware of and be very careful of. I will do the same exercise for my right side as I do my left side when it starts to act up. Luckily I have been able to control the over use issues, so far!

Not being a doctor I can not address the residual nerve damage. If I were in your position I would certainly explore that and rule it out.

If you have any more questions feel free to contact me via email.

Joy

First let me apologize for rude "2nd" comment on here, and thank you for welcoming me.

I went to the doctor yesterday and got the results of the MRI and EMG. Good news, no nerve damage (in the unaffected arm); however I have developed a volar ganglion cyst on my wrist and I have a lot of inflammation in the tendons. So, I'm on steroids (again) for 2 weeks. I have a splint to wear in the daytime and a compression glove at night and back to dr. in 3 weeks. I didn't even ask if the cyst had to come out - please not another surgery. All of this is from over use, repetitive motion. I did quit my job last week and he said that was a good thing, he thought my wrist and hand would appreciate that. I worked mostly on the computer (one-handed) and the mouse was killing my hand.
Thanks again, Kathy - and to the responder who said it was my job to respond to others - you are right. You have to be a friend to have a friend. I will try to join right in.

Well glad to you decided to join in. I wouldn't worry about the rude comment too much. We all need to vent from time to time.

Just wanted to say I am glad to hear the pain in the unaffected arm is not nerve pain. Good luck with the cyst and keep us informed.

Sue

Kathy, another idea to help ease the overuse of your good arm / hand. You might consider getting voice recognition software like Dragon Naturally Speaking (I got for a deal on ebay). You "teach" it to recognize your voice & it types what you say. The more advanced software can do a ton of shortcut commands, work in excel & other applications also.

Good luck & keep us posted.

Ellen