United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hi all, Please take the time to read my post and give any advice and/or answers that you can. All will be greatly appreciated. I originally wrote this post in a private message to Christopher, whose competing in a triathlon this weekend (go Chris go ) and will return on Monday to answer these questions for me. He suggested that I post this for others who may have simular questions to save him from possibly having to type the same things twice, as we both agreed, on-handed typing is not very fun . So here goes:

Hi Christopher, My name is Mattie and I have a LTBPI from a motorcycle accident on June 19, 2009. My injuries were (avulsion of C6 and 7) C5, 8 and T1 were grossly intact. I was left with my complete arm/ hand being paralyzed and no sensation from the elbow to the finger tips. I saw the extent of your injury and all of the different surgeries that you have had. My questions are: 1. Did you have all of your surgeries at the same time and place, if not how long did your doctor wait until he/she decided to do another surgery? 2. How much success have you had as far as recovery? 3. Do you still have chronic pain? 4. When or if you ever did have the pain, what kind of medication did you take for relief? 5. Did you have to take depression medication? 6.Have your doctors released you from care or are there more surgeries or treatment plans? 7. Did your injury interfere with the type of job you had at that time?
So far I have had nerve transfer surgery in November of '09, I have gotten mostly shoulder recovery, but no arm or hand movement or sensation and I was wondering how long should I wait to see if I need additional surgeries? Sincerly, concerned and worried,
Mattie

Hi Matt,

I will try to answer number 7 about types of jobs. Jobs that need 2 arms like driving a semi I was a Chicago semi teamster and drove semi locally for 25 years. I was injured at birth ended up with erbs of the left my hole life. Seen mechanic with a missing arm seen how others did without usage issues It always made me happy to see how well you can adopt to go further with out fear to failue because you tried. I am on the private board.

Master Diver Tom

you are on the private board???? there was a post on there on may 24 then the next one was on there sept 14. there is no one on the private board. unless you are on a different private board?? there are only a total of 15 posts on there. almost none of them have been responded to. i am not sure if a lot of people know about them

I was injured by a car while riding a bicycle. my injury is at c5. no feeling below my elbow, some biceps, no triceps and 4 finger shoulder subluxation. the pain never stopped for me, since 1968. I have had no surgery, no drugs either. I worked in an office until I retired in 2002 . you will be depressed so get treatment for it.

Bill

Ok,

I am trying to let others know I am on the private board. I needed to do so because I thought I could help more there. I never had surgery ever. But when your born in the 50s there was no surgery chooses( now) there seems to be to many ways to go with a erbs like mine or others with bpi issues. Even I remember that timing is a issue with these issues. I do know it for me that having a injury at birth gave me a life time ether to adapt or change to something else to try something new I could try. I know that trying over and over and failure does happen but you in fact will happen the joy of adapting to what you can fine joy by adapting.

Master Diver Tom ( on private board)

P.S ?,

Oh I think I am on the private Board? Two diffenant bpi problems came up over time and I responded because they wanted my opion so I wrote. I have no idea if they count my response for Sure TOM ??? no clue what happen ( maybe I did something wrong

Tom