United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hi Gina

Welcome to the club! Don't feel to bad about now searching the net- I searched years ago and found some place to write and thought is was all about babies... but could not imagine how it could happen today. I just turned 64 and it took me 60 years to find out I was not the only one with this "rare birth injury". I was 11 lbs. 14 ozs. I am also a New Yorker, what area of NY do you live in?

Read all the material you can and also read the posts on this adult/obpi board you will see a Pain post and also introductions it will help you to see how many of us are around. I am right OBPI and I never call it Erb's Palsy any more because it is an injury... and Erb's sounds like a salad... LOL...

Just wait until you meet your first OBPI/adult it is amazing how great if feels not to be alone anymore.

Kath

Gina,
Welcome to the club! I am 42 robpi and had surgery 3 years ago with Dr. Nath to get my ulnar nerve back. I was loosing feeling and now I have it back. I am currently taking meds and do not have pain anymore. Kath is in New York also.

Kath,

Are you sure we aren't twins... a few years apart?

Currently I am in the Hudson Valley of NY -- just above the city a ways.

I was 11 pounds 14.5 ounces at birth. My dad proudly announced I was the elephant baby and all the hospital staff came to see.

I am a left OBPI. (I never liked the word erbs OR palsy)

When I was a teen, I saw another girl oin my art class with similar problems. She would only say she had the same -- but wasn't open to discussing it.

There was also a local man whose arm was worse than my own -- but I never knew if he shared the problem.

Later I heard of someone here or there through my mother, but have never met or discussed OBPI with anyone. I am excited!


Gina

Judy,

With my age, I worry about what's to come. Especially since it's gotten so much worse in the last year or two.

I can't say enough about finding this group. I know I should stop saying it.. but my eyes must be as wide as saucers... I am nearly speechless (and that's almost IMPOSSIBLE).

Gina

Gina

I live in the Hudson Valley also. I just found your website when I tried to e-mail you.

You live in Dutchess I live in Rockland... we could meet in the middle.

I was also put on display for being the largest surviving baby born in that hospital... but they did not tell my Mom I was injured nor that they did a cardiograph - she found out when she undressed me at home. I was two weeks old when I left the hospital and then they had the nerve to send her the bill for the cardiograph....

Right now you are on a real high... you will have tons of questions and ask away...

Kath

Hi Gina,

I've been gone all day, driving down to pick up extra copies of our Outreach magazine from the printer and came home to your message and all the responses. You have been welcomed well! Let me add my welcome to the club that none of us wanted to join but here we all are, making the best of what life has 'handed' to us.

I had surgery at age 47 so it is never too late.

You will also find a lot of information on the home page of UBPN's website, links to a medical resource directory and a lot of Awareness information.
http://ubpn.org

If you want to get Outreach (free subscription) which comes out twice a year, send me your full name and address (nancy@ubpn.org).

Nancy Birk
President, UBPN