United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I don't fly a lot, but recently flew alone to Virginia.

I have learned from my own past mistakes and pack a VERY light carry on and check everything else. Even the carry on is on wheels so there is NO carrying. It has a tote strap for my purse to make it that much easier. I gave up on shoulder strapped purses years ago, so now when I travel I usually just have a lil clutch.

The few times I have needed to put something in the overhead I have been fortunate enough to get kind and helpful people. It also has been a godsend to have my little laminated Emergency Alert cards that I ALWAYS keep in my wallet !! Of course with my injury I have to decide do I hand them the Right or left BPI card lol
Tina

Hey Tina,
There are bilateral cards now too, so you dont have to pick if you want to be left or right for the day. Unless you like choosing which you are for the time being. Anyway here is the link:
http://ubpn.org/awareness/A2002emergency.pdf

Pack super light carry ons! I learned that very important lesson this last plane ride. My left arm ached from wheeling my carry on through the airport THats supposed to be my good arm, UHG!

Hugs,
Amy 21 years old and wishing I would have listened to Nancy and Kath when I was 13 and they warned me!

TinaT and Amy,
Better late than Never!! Look at me, age 65 before I started saving/guarding my "good" arm and shoulder! I still beat myself up for not doing this sooner as I am paying for it.

HUGS all around,
Carolyn J

I have never had a problem with pre-boarding. When they call for the wheelchairs and kids ,I just get in line with them. Noone has ever refused to let me board. Now once I get on the plane is a different story. I have had airline attendents refuse to help me get my bag up in the overhead many times. I usually look for a tall passenger . The bins are frustrating. I think the arthritis in the hands have a lot to do with that. It's hard to lift out a laptop and reach in the bag to pull out the medication etc. I fly a couple times a month.I don't like it,,but.... Also zipping the carryon after getting through security is really tough.
I wonder if taking the car handicapped sign and sticking it in their face to prove you are disabled would help.
Pat

Hey Amy...

Thanks, I've been gone so long I had no idea they had incorporated a Bilateral card ! Although, as you mentioned, sometimes it is convenient to be "right or left" for a day. As in when it's my turn to clean the kitty litter. Sometimes I can't use either arm............like when it's 5 below and the dog wants to be walked hahaha Hubby only fell for those antics once. Dam smart boy that he is.

Yes, I agree Carolyn about not protecting our arms when we were younger. BUT, how were we to know 40-50 years ago that doing what we fought so hard to prove we COULD do. Would now come back to bite us in our "good arms" so to speak. Years ago, Kath and I discussed that to death, and decided the best thing we could do now, was to try to warn younger people.
Tina with a bad and a worse arm today....

Tina,
thats great! Love the use of the arm to get out of kitty litter duty. You sure are a smart one!
I was always proving what I could do. I am slowly learning my lesson. wish i would have listened when I was younger and before I started seeing overuse in my left arm. Apparently, this is my area of slow learning.

Hugs,
Amy

Amy
You could not have stopped enjoying yourself and playing when you were young. I started having problems in my late teens with the unaffected arm. I never realized nor did anyone (medical) that the cause of all the pain and problems was overuse. Only one doctor ever told me not to lift heavy objects etc... That was when I had two babies... one was 28 lbs and the other 16... Right! How could I tell a 17 month old and a 3 month old I couldn't pick them up... Duh!

I had very poor medical advice and each time my left arm went out or my right arm was painful... They gave me drugs that made me sleepy and told me to rest. Never sent me for testing or PT...

Now is the time to take the steps you need to protect your unaffected arm so that you can pursue your career choice of OT.
l. Handicap parking
2. Accepting help and asking for it sometimes.
3. When purchasing equipment for your own home buy
things that will make your life easier.
4. Step to the side to reach things do NOT cross your
body.
I found out that is how my spine became so twisted
and created tons of problems in my lower spine.
5. You DON'T have to prove your superwoman to yourself
or anyone else.

Tina
Hey girl I love the great excuses... LOL
Now with over use it's two arms not working right but the secondary arthritis to my hands and finger are worse... ugh... rain and pain day...

Kath robpi/over aged adult

Tina- Yes, I did stop beating myself up the day I found the name, OBPI AND UBPN. It was a big boulder of my Soul and shoulders and I instintly started to heal emotionally and continue to do so only if I continue to warn all you Young'uns I can.

Tina, Please come to Camp 2009. I missed meeting and
<<<< Hugging)))) you at the other 2 Camps I attended.

Carolyn J
LOBPI, Over-aged adult too!


Message was edited by: Carolyn J

Kath,

Great advice for Amy. You're right, if anyone would have told me what I COULDN'T do, or how to do it when I was younger I would have spit in their eye!! And I got the same "medical" advice from the so called "professionals". I remember being told to squeeze this really hard rubber ball with my (weaker) right hand to help GROW MUSCLES hahahahahahaha Have you ever heard anything so silly in your life, as if growing a muscle would help ease my pain and allow me to reach above my head .

Numbers 4 and 5 are SO VERY IMPORTANT for all of us!!

THOSE are the rules I wish I would have followed. Maybe then I wouldn't have an arthritic left hip and lower back issues!! I have spent most of my life leaning/crossing to the right to get the momentum and leverage to lift my left arm to reach higher objects. It enabled me to get the job done,and I am so proud of myself. However, now I am suffering the consequences for all that crossing and contorting and is the ONE thing I ever would have changed. The thing I would add to your statement Kath is this.

We don't have to prove we're Superwomen.........because we JUST ARE !!

OH Boy, TinaT, you got that right! We always have been SUPERWOMEN & never gave ourselves credit and high fives (where we could!) for our acomplishments the hard way.
Please don't go away again!
Carolyn J