United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

hi, im 14 and i take gymnastics. i think it helped my arm becasue ive been taken gymnastics since i was really young and i feel like my arm has gotten stronger.
Amber

i am 17 years old and i've done many different sports such as martial arts, swimming, soccer, softball, gymnastics, flying tapeze, and i am curently on an alpine ski team. i've always been told that i can do anything, and somehow i've found the way! good luck with everything, if you have any questions feel free to ask!

Kath,
Do you remember gym and volleyball? Boy am I glad things havee changed. I remember my face getting hot and getting sweaty because I knew I couldn't hold or balance that darn ball in that erbs hand--not even sideways with a fist--or at least not consistantly. the gym teacher owuld yell at e and tell me to try harder--kids would laugh and I developed a sarcastic answer for everything--also skipped a lot of gym classes. I was ok other than that. Was in band,FTA ,4H, gilrl scouts, played sports at home. I just became do paranoid at getting yelled at or laughed at I quit trying--at least in gym.Guess I needed to learn to laugh at myself. I finally learned to do that at about 40---but I will never forget the hurt...and the fact that nobody understood or cared. Man I was a insecure kid--- but I had a lot of friends--at least I thought I did--I had a lot of kids spend the night ,got invited to parties and kids houses--but I never felt equal. I remember telling my mother my arm hurt and her response was that the dr. said Erb's doesn't hurt--you're making it up. t this day, if I think about it, i get that empty feeling again.
the good news is, I'm over 50 and am finally getting comfortable with myself and my abilities. Now I kind of follow the philosophy--when I am old, I shall wear purple......
I'd better stop, I'm even making myself miserable-- guess I need to get that out every once in awhile---how can that still hurt after all these years......

Pat
Gym was a horror for me! Even after all these years when I think of that little runt of a gym teacher dragging me out in front of the class to exercise and telling me to straighten my arm... she once tried to fail me for improper position during exercise... she was such a witch... wore heels to class and tons of jewelery dangling off her ... she probably could not even run... ops... even after all these years thoughts of her mean spirited lessons will still cause the hair on the back of my neck to stand up...
It can make you sad when you think about those people who were supposed to be the caring adults around us.
I try not to focus on those times because I can't change them... but a good vent once in awhile is good for your spirit... it helps us to let go of things instead of keeping them bottled up..
Can you imagine how frustrated a gym teach would be with a class full of obpi's.... LOL...
Kath

I don't play any organized sports. But, I do swim and snowboard.

Amazingly I competed in English stlye horseback riding from age 6 years old to 14 yrs old and had Scoliosis from age 10 yrs old so wore a full Milwalkie backbrace (chin to butt in steel) to boot and still won several championships in jumping and form work

WOW, Suzy,my son had scoliosis surgery on his 14th birthday too....much to share soon.....
Carolyn J

Kath,yes, that what we all need to do Kath, is vent to one another.It sure helps me to blow cobwebs of lingering memories away farther to hopefully disappear alltogether.
Hugs,
Carolyn J

Gees, mine had all that jewelry too! she also made me stand up in the middle of the gym and do jumping jacks--with even the boys watching and proceded to make fun of me. I don't think about this stuff until something on the board triggers a memory. I hope she is flabby with a lot of wrinkles---how's that for venting!!!!!

OhhhhhhhhhhhhhhKay! Let's cheer for venting every time someone triggers one of those memories! It really works!
Hugs,all~Carolyn J