United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hi Everyone
It,s Sean,s mum back again with another question. Sean, my 22 year old son has, as you may remember, a severe BPI. Today he went to a vocational guidance counsellor recommended by the rehab people. He fiiled out loads of forms and after three hours was told that he showed great apptitude for a trade. He was an apprentice plumber and the lose of his ability to do this kind of work was devastating for him. Has anyone else come across such ineptness when dealing with the possibilities for developing a career path. I feel so angry that while his family and friends are working so hard to promote a positive outlook this fool has suggested something which is not at all realistic.
Sorry for sounding off but I hope that everyone who is invovled on this site understands the frustration.
Overall Sean is doing well, good days and bad days. He is off the morphine and now takes an anticonvulsant to help with the pain. My thoughts and prayers go out to you all. I pray for a miracle medical or otherwise daily.
Thanks
Moira

Hi Moira!
I'm 21 with a right BPI. I have been searching for the right vocation for me. I wanted to be a chef, but I discovered while working in a bakery that I can easily burn myself without realizing it. So thats out. I tried working in a library, and a fabric store, and well, both those jobs caused my arm to dislocate. I tried working in a chocolate factory as a line worker, and I got fired for my disability. In September I started rehabilitation services program at the local college, which was great, until I was hospitalized for something unrelated. I've decided to change programs. I just can't do the lifts and transfers that are required for residential work.
I am soo tired of looking at differant jobs and having to consider my arm into it all.
I just wanted to let you know that you are not alone in this. I understand what you are going through.
Erica:o)

Hiya Moira. I was a firefighter, two months into my training when my accident occured. I had wanted to be in the fire brigade since I was a child and finally in September 2000 I was accepted and began my training.

In November 2000 however, some *(Censored)* person in a car knocked me off my motorcycle and left me lying in the road.

I just wanted to let you know your son is not alone in this. I couldn't and don't want to imagine a life behind a desk for the rest of my life and I'm currently racking my brain for ideas of my own business within something that I know I'll enjoy.

Feel free to email me.

Marc

Hi, it's a tough one this. 2 years post accident Im still not certain where im headed careerwise - i was 13 yrs in an active job (postie) before they finished me after BPI. I study at home now. A desk job i have been warned to avoid as it will not help spine injuries and could make things worse. (YES! im glad my doc is saying that, i didnt want a desk job if i could possibly avoid!). My OT thinks occupational therapist would be a good career choice for me, maybe, has he considered that? Good luck and let us know what turns up! :O)

Hi Moira..

Yes this can be a difficult one. I was a tailor/seamstress/sample maker - you name it; if it could be put under a sewing machine, or I could hand stitch it, I did it at one time or another thru my long career in the "rag trade"...my last job was freelance working on garments for very well known designers, mainly for the catwalk shows and London fashion weeks.
After the accident? Well, no way could I ever do my job again; not even teach it, as it essentially involves hands-on skills on a one to one basis. So, what next? I asked...well, I did go for a lot of the kind of tests that you mentioned; physcometric (sp!)logical thinking etc; the whole thing and guess what?? THEY thought I might be good at something artistic...????!! whatever that means! (I think it was a polite way of saying I'm a bit 'thick!!)
Well, to cut a long story short, I now spend quite a lot of time making jewellery, which some people seem to like. I would never be able to produce enough to make a living at it, but it does satisfy this need I have to be creative with my hand(s)
I think what I am trying to say, is that all sorts of doors slam shut it's true when you suddenly get this bpi thing, but loads of others open up, sometimes in the most strange places; the best thing of all is it gives you a chance to go back to college or whatever and re-train for something completely different, something that you may not have considered before.
Something WILL turn up, it always does! ;0)Experts? HA! What do they know...!
Love from Liz (p.s; you know me from Yahoo, Moira)..xx

my son is in the voc rehab program and they are taking cre of his eduatuion so he will be able to find a job that he can do and to make a living at. it is good program they will help place you in a job and do the traing to beable to do the job,
dont give up ,just hink he might find somethibg that will put him back in charge.

Hi all,

We're in the same situation. We asked our doctor about qualifying for disability and he said basically that Eric doesn't qualify (even though he has complete avulsions with some movement coming back but not to hand) because "He could be president of the US if he wanted to". So, Eric goes to college (majoring in Psychology). School's good anyways for the distraction and social factors. I just don't understand why he wouldn't qualify for disability or financial aid of some kind. I wonder what types of careers the experts recommend for people with BPI?

Hi to all
Thanks to everyone who replied to the vocational question, Sean has applies to do a unoversity course next year and seems to be building up to a much more positive outlook. The days go by and it still seems so unreal, especially when I look at him and see that the hand and arm are unmarked but refuse to work. I really hate that this has happened!
Love and prayers
Moira

Hi, Nancy. I would recommend getting further opinions on Eric qualifying for disability, even if it means hiring an attny who specializes in that area. In the meantime, here are some sites that might help. I came across them quite a while ago. They are tables on "aggravating motions & occupations associated with BP syndromes." I hope this helps. Take care. -Tina

http://www.hms.harvard.edu/oed/themes2/ ... able5.html

http://www.hms.harvard.edu/oed/themes2/ ... able6.html

http://www.hms.harvard.edu/oed/themes2/ ... able4.html

http://www.hms.harvard.edu/oed/themes2/ ... able2.html

http://www.hms.harvard.edu/oed/themes2/ ... able3.html


> Hi all,
>
> We're in the same situation. We asked our doctor
> about qualifying for disability and he said basically
> that Eric doesn't qualify (even though he has
> complete avulsions with some movement coming back but
> not to hand) because "He could be president of the US
> if he wanted to". So, Eric goes to college (majoring
> in Psychology). School's good anyways for the
> distraction and social factors. I just don't
> understand why he wouldn't qualify for disability or
> financial aid of some kind. I wonder what types of
> careers the experts recommend for people with BPI?