United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hi all,
First of all I want to thank all of you for the help you've provided me with through reading your stories and just making it a lot easier to accept and understand my TBPI .
I'm new to the site and to the brachial plexus injury thing. I had a terrible motorcycle accident on June 19,2009 and that was the first time I had ever heard of "the brachial plexus". I have absolutely no movement or sensation in my left arm/ hand/ fingers. I had nerve transfer surgery on November 13, 2009 and since then I've been experiencing a lot of contractions where my upper and lower arm tightens as if it's trying to move. I know its fairly early but has anyone else experienced this? What could this possibly mean? Any suggestions for support of shoulder subluxation? Does Dan's sling help with subluxation? Thanks for taking the time to read this and any advice/ suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

i wrecked out in aug. 2007. i've had the nerve surgery and all now i'm on year 3. i to am fully flail shoulder to hand. i get that same feeling in my arm i know what your saying and i fully think the arm is trying to heal itself. the dr's told me if i got anything back it wouldn't amount to much. well i've come to just accept it. my whole life was working with my hands so i'm pretty much outta work ( 1 arm / extreme pain) but i decided to just keep on keepin on. surround yourself with the people that love you and do your best to keep your head up high. if you ever just need someone you can relate to just to talk to i'm on msn messenger at danielscheper@hotmail.com.
take care,
daniel

same with me i try my hardest i hope oneday they will find away to fix this

i was injured in June 2005, my left arm is completely paralyzed. I had the nerve graft surgery in September 2005. It took about 6 to 8 months, but I finally did get some movement back in the biceps. To be honest, it's not particularly useful movement, but it does help control the edema.

Thanks to all who responded. I can't express with words the appreciation I have for all of your support. Daniel, thank you for providing me with your contact info. I would like to extend mine in the same manner.. shuggahgirl@aol.com.

Tough to deal with I know. I remember after having my surgeries, having the occasional flicker and/or contractions. I took it to mean that something was happening. I recovered a lot of bicep use but no deltoid. I think the key for me was just when I realized that I should expect the worst but never lose hope for the best. You kinda have to be rational about your recovery in that anything you get back is better than where you are now, even if its not what it used to be. I could not lift my arm at the elbow at all at 2 months post surgery, but was decent at 6 months. The shoulder has never done anything. But if you can strengthen the bicep, tricep, chest or back, all of those will assist the other muscles that don't yet work.

Daniel is 100 percent right though. Surround yourself with good people. I've lost alot of friends because I'm always in pain, and don't want to go out, or complain a lot, or whatever. I don't know if they meant to but they just go on with their lives and kinda forget about you. I'm sure if I called enough, we'd talk. But they certainly don't call me, or visit, or return the first call.

I'm sure you know, but it's pretty easy to get bored and depressed about everything. Maybe we just have way too much time to think. Just remain strong, not everyone will understand what you go through, but don't lose hope. I think you'll gain somethings back, maybe learn some new stuff, who knows.