United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Hi all,

My motorcycle accident was at the end of July 2011. I had complete avulsion of C5 - C8 and T1. Since there is no one in Washington St that is knowledgeable enough I had to look outside WA for help. After 5 agonizing months of searching and several canceled surgery dates due to insurance issues (the major hospitals, Mayo Clinic, Dr Susan Mackinnon, St Johns, etc would not even try to work with my ins.) I finally found a Dr and hospital that would do the nerve transfer surgery, Dr Armenta and Dr Berzin at the Texas Brachial Plexus Institute in Houston Texas. The Dr's and their staff are amazing. Their office worked tirelessly to get the Dr's, hospital and insurance on the same page. My family Dr has also been very instrumental in making this surgery happen. I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason and although I haven't found the reason for the accident I do believe that all the failed surgical attempts were because I was meant to end up in Houston with these Dr's. On April 15 2012 I traveled from Seattle WA to Houston and had a 9 hour surgery on April 17th. I've been home for 2 weeks now and am working to get my stamina back up so I can start physical therapy. As you all know I still have a long road ahead but I've found new will and determination now that phase 1 of my recovery is completed. Family, friends, Dr's, all of you, I'm very blessed to have such amazing people in my corner.

Lisa

wonderful and great news!!! hope you get a lot of function back. i am so happy for you that you found a good dr office to help you out.

Congrats Lisa. I hope you have a speedy and comfortable recovery. I know you had a tough time finding a doctor but that is finally behind you now. I too had nerve transfer surgery (at Mayo) on March 8th. Now that I'm back in PT, I'm starting to feel better and gain some strength back in my shoulder. Recovery does set you back a little but you'll get back quickly once you can start PT again so hang in there and know it will get better. My Dr says my reinnervation will take about a year so I'm working hard to try and shorten it. I'm sure you're facing much of the same so good luck and let us know how we can help if your spirits get low.

Best wishes.

Jeff

YAAA-LISA!!!
Things do happen when DETERMINATION kicks in The trick is the Quest to find the doctors in time or in the future to overcome these injuries. I hope someone thinking about Amputation Sees these post Please think more about finding a UPN Doctor before you really see a doctor Who would take your arm off. For some it is a long Wait for sure to find that doctor??? , My world at 10 was the doctor telling me there was no help for my Birth erbs, So I never thought there was help my hole life. Then I found this sight and found there was help out there!!! REALLY

Amputation idea??? really scares me not to try to detour the idea by sighting post Like These??
Just remember Lisa, Give yourself Slack to adapt Weird thing come from that pop up to Adapt, I thinK in life
Best Trys,
Tom

Good luck Lisa hope every things goes well, remember it takes time for the nerves to take

My son suffered an OBPI to his right arm 4/2011. We are from the Dallas area where there are no specialists available but he was seen by a neurologist at the Children's hospital here. We didnt get results we wanted so I found the doctors in Houston! We went for a consultation and then ended up a month later for surgery. On 4/23/12 Dr Armenta and Dr Berzin did 2 nerve grafts and cleaned up the scar tissue and we were home the 2nd day! My son is 13months old and is now starting therapy. Its a slow process I'm being told for nerve growth but we are prayerful everything will be ok. The doctors said he had so much scar tissue they were surprised pre-surgery that he had any movement. Post surgery they did an EMG test and he had deltoid, tricep, and bicep movement so praise God and we look forward to his recovery!! Congrats to you Lisa as well for finding these doctors. I really liked them as well. They took the time to talk to us and have been available everytime I contact them. Post surgery I had a lot of questions and I emailed "Lisa" in there office and she has been exceptional! She is very prompt to respond. Overall I feel blessed and that we made the right decision. I pray all goes well for you and your recovery!