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Radiation induced Brachial-Plexus Peripheral Neuropathy Patients

Breast Cancer | Last Active: May 19 11:12pm | Replies (43)
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@seathink

Hi @kirn,

I have RIBP on my dominant hand and arm, but lucked out in that the onset was during active treatment, only 7 months after radiation and while I was still on a chemo pill and seeing my cancer team monthly.

In addition to the PT, can you get some OT?

I found the flossing and such helpful from PT (also the manual lymph drainage and stuff), but the Occupational Therapy was *really* helpful, as that therapy was specific to aiding my fingers and hand to do every day stuff I had lost the ability to do, like grasp and lift and pick up with thumb and forefinger. Also I got tools to start handwriting again.

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Replies to "Hi @kirn, I have RIBP on my dominant hand and arm, but lucked out in that..."
krin | @krin | May 19 2:31pm

Hi. Yes, I found hand OT was helpful. Looks like we all need a bunch of medical people & techniques to help.

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pattyraeb | @pattyraeb | May 19 11:12pm

Hello, In the first few years I was doing the PT/OT, the flossing, stretching, playing with clay and bands. None of this mattered and the progression kept coming. Nothing helped. I saw a neuro plastic surgeon specialist for the upper arm and hand. The only thing she could offer would be a major surgery of around 14 to 19 hours or possibly even more to clean off the damaged nerves, then put omentum from my abdominal area over the open nerves. She would cut from below my ear down the neck to the clavicle area and over to the shoulder and down, and cut open my abdomen where I have already had surgery years ago for a TRAM flap. It would then be at least a 7-day stay in the hospital. She then said this would be to lessen the pain not take it away, and I’d probably lose more mobility in the arm. I said no, absolutely not. It would probably kill me, especially with my cardiomyopathy and lung scarring. I try to stay positive, at least I got an extra 30 years of life. I’m ready for when Jesus calls me home.

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