United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hi there everyone My name is Seka and I am new to this board but not so new to this injury. I have been living with this for 23 years now. My injury was caused in a car accident when I was 4 years old. I don't remember having a lot of pain when I was a youngster but as I reached my teenage years things started changing. I am now 27 and deal with severe pain in my injured arm. I have a strange painful sensation like I am being poked or ut by shards of glass.. has anyone else felt this? I am also having bad issues with my un injured arm and I am terrified I will lose the use of it. I feel constant pain in the core of my good arm like its in my bone from my shoulder to my
knuckles and is especially painful in my shoulder

and wrist and top of my hand. I was wonderi
ng if a
nyone is wiser and could shed some light on thigs that I could experience as I age? And I was also wondering if there was anyone new to this injury or newer that had any questions for me? I hope everyone is having a good day

The pain you describe is called "phantom pain" because it is not real but the result of the nerves being damaged. I was hit by a car while riding my bicycle in 1968 and have had phantom pain every day since. Currently, I'm taking gabapentine for the pain. It helps a little. But even at this moment I am having the same pain you "feel". I've had no surgery and have no movement or sensation below my elbow. Have you seen a doctor about the pain in your other arm? I have no pain at all in my non injured arm.

Thank you for responding I do have feeling in most my arm and movement, I can lift my arm a little and weakly move my fingers my wrist is stuck bent as well as my elbow and aI can wiggle my shoulder but not lift my arm at shoulder at all. Does phantom pain affect just the nerves? I don't know much about this injury I just found out what it was acctually called. I haven't seen a dr recently but I do have an appointment next week. Thanks again for your help

Hi,

When you ask do phantom pain just affect the nerves, in simple terms, yes. It really is the other way around, you get phantom pains because you have damaged the nerves.

Make sure the Dr you see for your injured arm is a brachial plexus specialist.

I have had my injury for over 26 years and have no use of the arm, have the same pains you are experiencing and like Bill, I have no pains in my good arm. I don't take any medications for the pain, have learned to deal with it.

Please let me know if there is anything I can help you with.

Dan

Thank you Dan I have never been on any medications either and have also learned to ignore the pains I feel but recently they have become noticably different and more intense. My uninjured arm felt pretty good until about 4 years ago I was attempting to take a sweatshirt off over my head I heard and felt a snap followed by a sharp pain ever since I have had an ache that feels like it is in my bone and ever since it has gotten worse and worse. I am also guilty of never asking for help so I think I may have over worked it :/ I was wondering if your elbow ever locks? Mine locks in a flex position and feels like if I try to relax it will break Thank you so much for responding to me I greatly appreciate it.

Pain is good to talk about here,
Our Injuries are different to a point by the pain we are not
We are less in pain overtime doing something, giving another try to adapt to something. Smiling from finding a way to overcome things, Its twist PAIN<OCH but overtime you do by Post Is like a Endorphin rush , when your happy by trying in spite of the pain.
My good arm got injuries driving a semi,My deltoid was so baldly Tore,it had to be total reattach, I have birth erbs ib other arm, 62
If you have the over use issue ??
I never thought my good arm would of got rip up driving a semi, I was so happy to be able to drive a semi, for 25 years with birth erbs.
Anyway, I had to apply for Social Security Disability , Screw , with 2 arms mess up
You might find yourself having to apply, because of the over use issue in your good arm
What I do know that I filled with limitation issues in both arms, I never got a lawyer to get it and I never had to appeal, Getting and keeping medical record help
Get a lawyer , I just live challenges anyway
I wish the doctors could inject Nova-cane to nerves that hurt S0000 bad, Ouch
They do it for teeth?? Cretan nerves Bug me the most over my lifetime , I have been on a life long quest for a pill to like US I am wondering Can you deaden a pain- full nerve without killing it today??, by injection or patch??? Is it out there?? No Clue
Just reflecting to share,
Tom

Wow Tom! That is so cool you drive semi! My mom and Dad also both drive! They have talked. To me about driving as well! Can I ask if there is any special things that you do or have to help? That is just so neat you do that!
Yes that would be nice if they could inject novacane right in there! Sometimes it feels like I've been carrying a suitcase around for years.. that deep burning and pulling sensation at my neck and shoulder sure would be great to say goodbye too. For now I try to keep my mind on other. Things to take my mind off the pain. Can I ask about what age you were when you started experiencing. Issues from your un injured arm? I have had strenuous. Jobs and pushed myself and I'm worried about secondary injuries from over working myself. Thank you Tom!

Hi Seka,
Ok, will start with the driving
Let start with your reach, I have very little so this is what I do. I set the steering wheel a little lower and move the seat a little closer to the wheel. This way I can hold on to the steering wheel with my limited reach. By holding the steering wheel low it frees the arm to reach to do turn signal and turn up the music Do get a spinner knob this will help you for turns. You will find your own tricks to drive to

You might like to see my Customize 2005 Gto, I designed
It is at Ultimate gto sight , page 29 , mid page, Gray, Shark design
My good arm, I never had a problem of over use, It got torn up when I caught my fall off a semi a few years ago
Many post have the over use problem and ways of dealing with this issue to.
In the end , I still end up with 2 mess t up arms, But it a opportunity to try to adapt with limitation in both arms know. Dwelling on this does no good trying to find ways to adapt and overcoming does help, I do it, you do it, Courage by trying so many post this to
I drove semis for 25 years and fining a way to do so with birth erbs gave me a lot of joy
Pain level, well it suck, But I would of change nothing, Pain all ways comes with trying by other post to, Pain relief is a life long Quest for-sure
Hope this Help???
Tom