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One year into adult brachial plexus injury
M22 had a dirt bike accident on may 17th, 2024. My spine was injured in multiple places ( Right c1 lateral mass fracture, and left c4, c5, c6 and c7 fractures along with a lot of the thoracic.) which has healed well enough but I also had a brachial plexus injury on my non dominant left arm. It has been a little over a year now and I’m losing hope and confidence in the handling of this situation, I have dexterity in my hand and progress has been hopeful there with 50lbs of grip strength coming back along with wrist mobility and even some forearm but no ability to rotate without leverage. As far as the arm and elbow/bicep go there has been almost no improvement in the ability to lift or bend it ( I can move it in the pool). Around the time the accident happened I didn’t get paired up with a consistent nuero who had any experience with this and I was just so grateful to be alive that I didn’t think too awful much of it and they did order a mri and ct scan which they said looked like it was a “stretched nerve” and explained it like insulated wire and it would grow back over time with pt. The thing that scares me more as I look into things is that a Emg or nerve test was never done on me and I’m beginning to wonder if a surgery of some kind would help bring my mobility back or what realistically would be the best path moving forward
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@icebear glad to see if this is fairly fresh, was in a motorcycle accident in July 2025 and sustained similar injuries including a brocial plexus injury which has left my dominant, right arm with complete paralysis. Seen my dr this past week and was told my injury is just way to severe to do any type of surgery to recconect any nerves. Ive been left with the desicion to have whats called a DREZ procedure which will help with the cronic nerve pain im having. Kina just at a dead end and just wanted to share my story about it!
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1 ReactionWhat is the DREZ proicedure and what dose it actually do to help with then pain?
Look into a Myopro. It is an upper extremity myoelectric orthoses. It enables a patient to use an impaired hand and arm again. It can improve function in paralyzed or weakened arms and hands of people that have had a stroke, brachial plexus,spinal cord or nerve injury. I am an Occupational therapist and a regional representative presented at an educational meeting that the OTs at my facility had yesterday. Website is: myopro.com. They probably also have information on YouTube.
April 16, 2024, I was 73 and being prepped for left shoulder replacement surgery by the anesthesiologist when my arm shot out as if hit by lightning. The anesthesiologist asked where it hurt and I used my right hand to draw a line just above my elbow. In the next minute or two I was under general anesthesia. I woke up with my numb arm in a brace. It was outpatient surgery and I was still groggy when I briefly saw the surgeon who said everything went well. For weeks I had no use of my arm or hand and it all hurt. It wasn't excruciating pain but it was and still is constant. I had to wait six weeks for an EMG, the doctor told me that it could take 18 months for the nerve to heal. I saw physical therapists for over a year and then went back for a refresher for a month.
Now, two years and three months later, after slow, incremental improvement, I have diminished use of my hand. The EMGs show recovery in the medial and ulnar nerves but damage to the radial nerve. Typing is an exercise in frustration. Working with sharp tools requires concentration and care. I recently consulted an attorney.
Emotionally, it's been a roller coaster. But so is life. Other than the anesthesiologist, I receive excellent health care and I'm pretty healthy. All my basic needs are well met. I give thanks for my blessings and try to keep the less fortunate in mind when I start to complain.
Many years ago, I broke my T12 and had a traverse fracture of my third sacral section. That's a whole other story about pain and patience and giving thanks. About learning to smile through tears.
Good luck to all of us. Thank you to the medical staff and doctors.