BRACHIAL PLEXUS INJURIE

I AM A 54 YEAR OLD MALE AND IN SEP.2004 I HAD FALL OF 102ft FROM A OFFSHORE DRILLING RIG TO WATER (80 ft DEEP ) AND FROM THE FALL I HAD BRACHIAL PLEXUS INJURIE LOST THE USE OF MY RIGHT LUNG, HAND AND ARM. I HAD NERVE TRANSPLANT BUT I HAVE NOT HAD IMPROVEMENT. JUST A LOT PAIN!! I TAKE ALOT OF PAIN PILL OC.IT HELPS SOME I ALSO HAVE A TENS UNIT IMPLANTED IN SPINE IT HELPS A LITTLE. I JUST WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS ANYONE OUT THERE THAT KNOWS SOMETHING ELSE??

[sashadog]

HI.  My brother had a brachial plexus injury a about 5 years ago.  He lost the use of his left arm in a snowmobile accident.  It left him in terrible pain.  He said that it felt like his fingers were tied in a knot and a car was parked on his hand!  He was on major pain meds but has now weaned off of most of it all.  He doctors at Mayo clinic in Rochester, MN.  He went through major surgery as well to implant muscle and nerve tissue into his spine and arm.  Improvement has been slow.  He is lost without a therapist who understands his surgery or recovery expecations.  Up untill about 5 years ago the only treatment was amputation.  I still havent make the decision myself if that really is a better choice, I will leave that up to my brother.  Massage and acupuncture did if fact help him though!

[herb99]

Im a 62 year old male who distroyed my left breakial plexus. Had my lower left arm amputated. Pain was terrbile. Took 14 years to find a neuro surgeon. he went into my spine and severed the nerves that were telling my brain that my left hand and wrist were "on fire". What a relief!

[Cosi7876]

I don't know if this is any help to anyone. I had a car crash 9 years ago and suffered Brachial Plexus. I will never forget the pain. I lost the use of my right arm, had pain going up the right side of my head into my ear and eye. I also had severe whiplash and upper thorasic back injury and a hairline fracture of the skull on the right side. Firstly I had a brilliant Physiotherapist. She worked on me three times a week to keep the muscles from withering and also to work the knots out of the ones in spasm. It was horrible and I was crying with the pain at each session. I was on Nurontin, Lexotran and Amatriptaline. After about 18 months I went to see a Pain Specialist. He was the one that saved my sanity. He started me on Nerve Block injections. They wern't very successful really but I would get a few days break from the pain. These went on for another 18 months, I had 9 courses of them over that period of time, each one with a general anesthetic and after the last one the pain went. I have to say at the start the Physio said to me that it would take 3 years for the nerves to heal and of course I laughted at her and said I would be better in a year. How right she was, it was a month off the three years when the pain stopped. I have never looked back. I have the full use of my arm again and the only thing I suffer from in slight pain in my neck every so often which a few painkillers will fix. All I can say is stay positive and keep telling yourself that you will so everyone that you will beat this. Thats what I did and I am now back hikeing and climbing with the Scouts and walking groups that I am a mamber of. Good luck to all of you and there is light at the end of the tunnel.

[Tuckamore]

Hi Cosi,

Thanks for your input. The original thread is almost two years old. I doubt the poster is still active.  You may want to try to contact the member that posted this through a PM.

Thanks again,
Tuck