what hope do i have

[Master DIVER TOM]

Hi Rob,

Thanks you for explaining. It just me, I wish that it was not such a struggle in a emergence room or at birth BPI issues in labor issues to be connect to a doctor that treats a BPI issue ether way in a timely manner, I also know that depression come from a lack of direction. You know in the 50s I was left as road kill by 14 with erbs There was no treatment or even the treatment you had or others treatments stated here, I never heard of any type over the years till I found this sight , I am happy there is being more done, but still its like chasing your tail trying to find out what will help correct the limitation? One thing I see in my life was to do my best with it, even if my trys did not work out. I see that many hear as you do to have that same determination to find a way to get past there limitation FOR SURE . That also makes me happy it better than felling bum out , that never helps.

Thanks for your response.

Tom

[swhite1]

Ok, I do not get it?? You know I really am a Dinosaur some times. When you guys got your BPI did not they have a doctor at the emergence room who new the signs of a BPI injury You should of been seen or referred to one. To leave a person with out a direction is JUST !!! That does TICK me. ITS SO WRONG!!! : .

Tom??

1. No. I wasn't even told of my BPI. I was in the third hospital and only then I overheard two OT techs talking when one of them, she was actually the therapist, told the other, the tech, about BPI's and how difficult 'they' can be to work with because of the pain.
b. This was a month, month and half after being in the hospital.???
3. The second hospital I was in for a week treated my right thumb(where the infection was destroying the tissue) with antibiotics and did absolutely nothing for my BPI arm which was completly flail, shoulder to finger tips. And burn...my God it burned. They gave me a sling, some hydrocodones, some dressings and discharged me with orders to return for possible skin grafting. OMG? I mean wtf right?
and
D. It wasn't until I joined these boards months later that I actually knew anything for real about BPI.
I'm forever grateful to this site, its founders an of course the members who keep it going.
It is such a disappointment to see more and more people joining our ranks.

I don't know where my head was when I began this so I'll finish by saying that this injury, accidental, birth or illness is not on the register of public conscience.
I've had three boys, my parents had seven children, all my brothers and sisters have children, some of us grand children, all of our in laws and their families and I've a lifetime of friends and associates. Nobody, and I mean nobody ever even heard of a brachial plexus injury let alone suffered through one. That's a lot of people. I'm the lucky one I guess.
So, now that I put it in this perspective pehaps this is the one thing I've been called to do?
I'll buy my ubpn polo shirt and give people something to read while they're staring at me and my arm?
I'm not going to suger coat this to any of the newbies here. Some of us, with some form of this plight, the pain just does not go away. It will not stop hurting. It just gets different. You certainly can ditract with other activities. You can even get a life if you happen to be on the 'young' side. I consider myself lucky? because this happened to me a year and a month after I retired from civil engineering. I used to be left handed. So hows that for a retirement send off? Only time will tell and time waits for no one. We shall see, we shall see.
Good night and God bless,
Scott

[RobertRacer]

Medicine has come a long way and they make improvements every day, 5 years from now will be completely different even. That being said, it was 5 1/2 months before I was diagnosed. I did have other medical issues though that were pressing at the time.

[Master DIVER TOM]

Ok, I get it . I was called stud arm till I beat the jerks down with my right in the 1960s. Dam I could tell you all about the BS I was face with my limitation and beat downs I gave for jerks calling me stud arm. You can live your life on edge or you can pick your battles to overcome what BUGS you. I am on your side, If I say I really do understand what you fell , NO JOKE I do for real . We are here and you stay here to, If you ever need support than you Hit the right sight(for sure).

Tom

[RobertRacer]

Tom, I can't imagine having to go through my pre teen to teenage years with this injury. Other kids can be real idiots. They wouldn't have understood the other kind of emotional issues you have from this. I think I would've probably reacted the same as you, they would've received a righty beat down. Plus I'm sure it was tough personally for you because of all the changing emotions in those years anyway, then this crap on top of that.

Knowing what I know now, I don't envy anyone who has to deal with that and at that age. Its tough for us other guys because you live 30 years one way and then are forced to change the way you live, act and accomplish things. It's an adjustment for sure. People don't easily change after they become a certain age and are set in their ways. It's tough for all of us I guess, but it gets easier as you learn and/or relearn things.

[Master DIVER TOM]

What happen when I was young was bad for sure when you get a Bpi latter in life is worse to me, you had use in two arms. (In General) to me , you gain determination by focusing more on overcoming what you can and not your limitation and what you cant do thats despair. You gain pride in your accomplishments in spite of your limitation . You gain determine to try and a fearless spirit thats will stay with you all your life. So when I say stay strong you know what I mean. I overcame more by determination than fighting the world with a fist when I was young.

Tom

[RobertRacer]

Yeah, I saw a buddy of mine last night for the first time in awhile. He was a nurse in the hospital where i was taken. He said I was in real bad shape. Most people would have died in those first few days. He said thats sad but fact. But said all the nurses could tell that i was a fighter, and i'd beat it. I didn't pass on so i guess i overcame the major hurdle anyway.

Overcoming the obstacles from the BPI was tough at first, especially with my other injuries. Like you said, its just a major adjustment after you go through life one way to adapt. But eventually you adapt and its not a huge physical issue. The mental side is a little tougher at times, but you just have to deal with it and move on.

[Master DIVER TOM]

Time to get on my soap box, I thought about this more and the emotional issue . I know for a fact being angry is a good thing for a parent or child or for a person getting a bpi issue latter in life it is far better than despair. Its what you change the anger in to I think that counts. If you can take your anger and change it into determination it becomes a excellent tool in life to me.It is also a plus when you are on a quest to find things in life that you can find to do inspire of your limitation. If something you try does not work out, try something else. You can ask someone here to that you would like to try something maybe we can help? In my life my anger did change into a determine and trying. What was true to for me is the busier I can be some way also helps the pain to a point. To me I see so much here of determination and trying. Determination is all about the messages I read here to. So anger is good if you know how to channel it, if you fine your slipping into despair say so here.There is a true fact that in the 50s-60s growing up there was no help or hope and felling very alone for sure. But yet it still works out in life for sure. I am happy there is treatment and this board. So in the end you real do have help and hope. Man I hope I wrote this right??

Tom

[Master DIVER TOM]

Part 2, I have to finish my thought. I think I really want to talk about the despair issue to the best I can? Grown up , I fell into despair so many times because of my erbs and no one could help me, I know my mom was lost to what to say and felt despair to, there was no hope back then.Good news there is this board and new treatments that happen all the time with big words I never heard before I thought about it and I really think that finding some type of direction I dream up to try, always pulled me out of it and impress my mom that I found away to do things. You know every one here I think start finding direction the minute they spent the time to find a direction, like finding this sight. When you get advice here you do get direction by true life experience and not just option or mere words. I thought I should point this out to

Tom

[Master DIVER TOM]

I thought I would put this hear, I answer a lot of the question like this one and others by my life experience with erbs, Sometime I do add a thought at times I go to far to answer some questions but like the comment I read , I had a mom that had to deal with my erbs at birth. I spoke to the need of the moms anxiety not because I am a mom but the baby speaking to the mom with erbs for over 50 years experanse and 21 years with my mom and her anxiety trying to help me. I will keep answering the best I can to the needs of other by my life experience If I can .

Tom