United Brachial Plexus Network

Hello everyone. I'm brand new to the board. I came across it while searching for some information to try to explain my daughters symptoms.

She is a week over 4 months now and she is having trouble using her arms to play with her toys (seems like she has a lack of shoulder control). She will use her hands and bend at the elbow, but won't lift her arm at the shoulder to pick things up or put them in her mouth...she tries to put her mouth down to the toys. Also, she still keeps her hands either clenched or open toward her body and kinda just pushes toys around with the backs of her hands...if she does clench one, it's not for very long.

Does this sound like Brachial Plexus? She was delivered by forceps after a failed vaccuum attemp and 4th degree epesiotomy.

Thanks so much for the info, I will be skimming through the site to find more of it!

Richelle

Hello,
It's Melanie. You can go to the resources board and find a doctor in your state. Or call your local children's hospital and speak with the physical therapist department. Definetly do something sooner than later as the younger the child, it seems there is a better chance of full recovery. I'm 33 and just had surgery with Dr. Nath and let me tell ya, I have an uphill battle. I basically have to train my right arm how to work as it hasn't functioned properly all my life. Best of luck to you and your baby!!!

Hi Melanie,

I was just curious to know how much function you have had on your affected side.

Hello. It sounds like you need to have your child evaluated by a BPI specialist. This is of utmost importance because time is of the essence in helping children regain function that they should have had at birth if this is BPI. There are numerous BPI doctors on the resources page that you can get in contact with. We see Dr. Kozin at Shriner's Hospital in Philadephia. If you need contact information for him, feel free to email me. Good luck to you.

Tanya in NY

Hi Cindy,
All five of my nerves were damaged at birth but I do have minimal function. I can't supinate or lift my arm above 30 degrees. I can do the "hand to mouth" without a problem and lift my arm abouve my head passively only. I have started a brachial plexus photo album through Shutterfly and am more then happy to share my pre-op limits and the differences so far, just send me your e-mail address. My goal is to start a web page on my surgery and the progress (or lack of) that I will have in the future.

Melanie