United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hi everyone it Christy wife of Anthony left tbpi 8-5-02 from a mc accident. Got the results back from the emg taken friday 9-13-02. Doesn't look good. He has his c5,c6,c7,c8 totally avulsed from the root of the spinal cord. We live in ten minutes from Norfolk, Va. were Dr.Terzen is based. They referred us to her but she doesn't take insurance?? Does anyone have any suggestions. Does anyone with the same injury have anything come back to the arm through surgeries or by itself?
Thanks, Christy

Hieveryone,
It Christy Again. Wife to Anthony 8-5-02 left tbpi from a motorcyle crash. We got results back from his EMG done Friday the 13th. We should have known better giving that date. He has totally avulsed c5,c6,c7,c8 fron the root of the spinal cord. A pretty devastating injury from what the Dr. has told us. We live in Va.Beach, Va (USA) only about ten minutes from Dr. Terzin. We where referred to her but she doesn't accept insurance??? Has anyone gone to her? What does something like this cost? Anyone out there with the same injury have any success with surgery or by itself?

Hi Christy, wow sorry about your husband's avulsions.
I have similar injuries but had no surgery, and no, my arm didn't get better (except biceps, quite a lot of us get some biceps return spontaneously)but it doesn't affect me too badly these days.

I have read a few of Julia Terzis' papers, she is highly regarded internationally as a bpi surgeon, and she has a lot of experience with tbpi which is very important. If you can't get her to take your insurance (I'm no help there, I've never experienced a health system based on insurance, maybe others can help you there) check the medical resources button on the home page of this site for specialists near you and contact them for help. Try and find someone who mainly deals with tbpi adults if you can, the issues are different than for the babies and it's important to find an experienced surgeon.
Good luck in your search and best wishes to your husband.

Hi, Bill here. I have a right bpi due to car accident this past June. McAllen,TX

Hello! Long time since I've posted. A lot has happened since! My son Dan, LTBPI, from auto accident last September, finally had nerve transfer surgery last month at Washington University-Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Dr's. Tung and Mackinnon attended to his surgery, care and treatment. Now we're just waiting. He's beginning to feel some new sensations, and he thinks he's getting some movement back in the bicep. This could be the beginning of possible other surgeries to come. There was talk of muscle transfer, but they decided to see if nerve transfer would work this far out from the date of the injury. Time is of the essense and unfortunately, our local attending physicians didn't go the extra mile and wasted precious time when solutions could have been made. We're just praying for a miracle.

Suzanne from Chicago, IL...... right TBPI as a result of a pedestrian vs. commuter train ax in Feb. '99.

Anna 17 South Queensferry Scotland

Right BPI from birth
take care u guys<

Hi everyone. I'm 27 & from Los Angeles. I had a motorcycle accident in 10/99 when a drunk pedestrian decided to jump in front of my motorcycle. I should've hit him but I swerved & hit a pole. I broke 2 bones in my left foot, shattered both bones in my right forearm broke my right wrist, completely tore out all the plexus from the spine of my right arm and had an open fracture of the right femur-(came out of my leg in the back). i still have the titanium rod in the leg & plates & screws in the forearm. i just found this site a couple days ago & it's been very inspirational reading all your posts.

I might as well get on the TBPI wagon too. I am a 42 year old woman. 2 1/2 years ago, on 11/27/99, I hit a tree on a 4 wheeler. I injured my Right C5, C6, C7, C8 and T1. Glad to finally find others with the same injury. I will tell my story at a later date. I want to get back to reading all the messages boards.

male 17 (at the the time of injury)will be 22 on the 21st of oct, hurt 10/31/1997 football game, right bpi, c5&c6,
surgery 4-7-1998 full recovery 2-2001
from oklahoma