United Brachial Plexus Network

EDIT
Just a quick note. I've decided to temporarily take the videos down. Using the links with youtube just isn't secure enough. I know it's a bit of a bummer but no worries. Hopefully I can think of a better way to show the videos.

It is awesome to see your progression. You look outstanding and seem to be extremely productive! Congratulations!,

The before and after shots are amazing. You've made excellent progress!

Ang,
thanks for sharing the vids. you have improved pretty dramatically. boy, i sure
wish for some lift/elbow action like you have. you rock, keep on.

Question, though for the amount of gains you have, it probably doesn't matter... but what are the scars/amount of incisions made in the shoulder & tricep/bicep transfer?

Hi Ang,

Thanks for sharing your success! The guys at Mayo have offered me the same sort of wrist/finger fusion you had. Has the outcome made it easier/harder to put on clothes and gloves?

Best,

MW

Thank you so much for the nice comments everyone! I really appreciate them. I hope the videos are proving to be helpful

Cristina - Heheh, I've had so many surgeries all over my body I don't even think to ask about the scars or incisions since it doesn't even matter to me at this point but let me think........ the shoulder surgery has several incisions (i think... I had the nerve transfer so close that I get the two surgery scars confused) but there is one sizable scar that runs vertically down the shoulder blade area that is definately from the shoulder surgery. Everyone scars differently; on me it's pretty thick and slightly raised, but not too bad. Totally worth having shoulder function and as you saw, the shape of my shoulder is so improve that I would take a scar over the "quasimodo look", lol
The Tricep to Bicep transfer there is a very thin, 3' scar underneath the arm, vertically from the elbow towards the shoulder. It's super thin and hardly noticable...again, worth the trade off.
I am going to try t0 get another video with my ahoulder and arm bare so the phyiscal results can be seen better and I will try to get a zoom-in on the scarring.

MW - Absolutely I have an easier time getting dressed and I wear gloves every day. This is mainly because a) my wrist is fused so is now rigid instead of flopping around and b) the fingers have been positioned so that they are fairly straight instead of curled and are hooked up to the working tendons better so I can clench them together (before the fingers flailed so they would get caught on sleeves and I was actually afraid of breaking them that way) Hope this helps

I agree, even though there are sizable scars involved, the trade-offs are much greater. I would take the scars over no function any day. & That's so much more than minor function!

You look sooo pleased in the 2nd video Angela - very happy for you

I just had a minute to watch your videos and I am amazed!!! Thats incredible amount of functional return!
Thanks for sharing the videos Angela
Amy