United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hi, I'm a new guy, Bill from Harrisburg, PA.

Got my taste from getting a 15,000 shot into my right shoulder, had a complete re-do of my rotator/labrum in Feb 04 (accident Dec 03).
Wife of 25years was really going after the docs about my pain, no sleep, weakness, etc. since the accident.

PT shoulder specialists STOPPED my rehab work twice-both times for complete lack of progress.

EMG 1 day short of seventh-month following the accident revealed BP break c-5, three-places.
My hands barely function; have had NO sensation at ALL in my thumb and index finger since the accident, pain pills all but useless(missus calls them my tic-tacs).
Just beginning my journey into this very real scarey area-at 45, already survived a two-level fusion at c5-6, c6-7 and made it back.
I found this site purely by "accident", pun, and you here may have saved my brains and emotions, reading that I have friends.
God bless all of you.
Bill
billxtruk@yahoo.com

Let me be the first Bill to welcome you to the group that no one wants to join as we say aorund here! Glad that you have found this website and these message boards as there is sooo much information here. Please ask any and all questions that you or your family may have, there is nothing that we havent heard! We are like a little family here so WELCOME!

Courtney xo

Hey, Bill.

I'm so sorry about your accident. I'd heard about bpi being caused by gunshot wounds but you're the first person I think I've "met". In fact, our local bpi doctor only sees patients w/gunshot wounds, which got us up to Mayo all that much faster.

We can really relate about the pain, rest assured. There are a lot of different approaches to pain treatment, and if you aren't already familiar with them just bump around on the site. One thought I have is that quite often the pain goes down (even drastically) when there's reconstructive surgery - since the brain starts to figure out something is going on down there after all once the nerves get going. Not sure what/if you have options there, but several clinics do muscle transfers that aren't time sensative in the way trying to innervate original muscles are. We're big on Mayo in Rochester, but other doctors do this also...might be something to think about.

Take care,

Ellen

Wasn't shot, sorry about the venacular. I was struck by a 680-pound door that was traveling at 50 miles per hour(remember your kinetic energy multiple from junior high algebra?) which blew apart the inside of my shoulder. The ortho docs did the surgery on the rotator and labrum, but never tested my nerve function(even as the PT's STOPPED my rehab because of no progress, SEVERE pain, etc, docs did not test until seven months after the accident). Therapists also saw the carpal-like hand, weaknesses, et all.
Only after the boss(Mrs. Bill) laid down the law, did the docs get serious.
The ONLY test done BY THE BOOK was the neuro's emg, when he got positive for carpal, he went to the bp test (again, btb) and found avulsed c-5, and 3 breaks in the nerve.
Was a truck driver for the last 21-years, and it was a comp injury. Got the best (sic) docs, and mow they are "doctor shopping" me, trying to get a favorable view of my case. Dr. Nath has given the insurance a 4-to-six-week window to try to salvage what's left of my arm, which is only sensations in my ring and pinky finger.

Hi Bill! Welcome to the boards.Very sorry to hear about your accident. This is a very supportive group of people and they have been wonderful in helping us. My son is a TBPI-right arm. He just had primary surgery in April. His accident was in November of 2003. He has no feeling or use of his arm or hand or fingers. But were hoping to see something positive with the surgery.

Hi Bill, Welcome to the boards! I replyed to you a few days ago, but the post never went through, must be my computer, LOL! My son is 11 years old and got his injury last November from a 4 wheeler accident.

Welcome Bill and your wife,

My 27 yrs old son, Ryan, was in a motorcycle accident 4 years ago and this site has really not only helped him but my husband and myself.

Just ask all the question you want, that is what we are here for.

Best to you on this long journey.

Karen and David.