Any regrets?

Treatments, Rehabilitation, and Recovery
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hubbard
Posts: 15
Joined: Tue Aug 21, 2012 2:36 am
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: 07-08-2012 Left BPI, which is dominant arm. Had a bicycle accident.
Location: Spencer, Iowa

Any regrets?

Post by hubbard »

Does anyone regret having surgery to get some movement back into your arm. My son has a 4-5 root avulsions, so surgery for some movement is he the only way! Would you have the surgery again with what it has gained you? Or if u were never given the opportunity, do u wish u could gain a little movement? Lets hear your personal opinions, good or bad!
johnmetalman
Posts: 30
Joined: Tue Sep 27, 2011 7:29 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: hit by car november 26 07 operated on oct 08 ruptured radial nerve with sural grafts and nerve transfer of median to radial in forearm. radial nerve has some recovery all other nerves are intact.

Re: Any regrets?

Post by johnmetalman »

I am happy with the surgery I had performed. I had my radial nerve grafted with a nerve taken from my leg. The nerve taken from my leg did not effect the function of my leg at all. It only left me with a little bit of numbness on the side of my foot which I do not even notice now (sural nerve). The nerve that was grafted helped my range of motion in my shoulder, use of triceps and use of wrist extention. I had this done at 11 months post injury and have good results.
MW
Posts: 81
Joined: Fri Jun 19, 2009 6:13 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: LTBPI, Feb 2009, hit by truck while on a run. Free muscle transfer at Mayo Clinic 6 months later.
Location: Chicago, IL

Re: Any regrets?

Post by MW »

I lost all function and most muscle below my shoulder. I had surgery at Mayo where they did a free muscle transfer from my leg and activated with my spinal accessory nerve. The end result was that I regained elbow function - totally worth it. I did have to wear a ridiculous cast for a few weeks though and have some scars, but as I said, worth it. It did take about 14-18 months after surgery to see results.
Dan
Posts: 170
Joined: Wed Jun 28, 2006 9:08 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: Injured 5/11/86, had just turned 18 yrs old
Evulsed C5-T1
Intercostal into Bicep 10/86
Location: Los Angeles
Contact:

Re: Any regrets?

Post by Dan »

I avulsed all five of my nerves, so no function possible without the surgery. I had my surgery 26 years ago, one of the first intercostal into the bicep. Elbow bends, which means I get some function out of it on a daily basis, better than not having anything. Worth it? Yes. Would I do it again? Yes.

I can also say that had I not had the surgery, I am certain I would have had it amputated and I am happy to have it with minimal function than to have had it removed.

Dan
AK_Cara
Posts: 16
Joined: Sun Nov 05, 2006 11:01 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: TRBPI on January 14, 2005 at the age of 14. Complete avulsion of C6-T1 with a very damaged C5, regained shoulder stability and bicep thanks to the team in Minnesota. If there is any fellow Alaskans here let me know! I don't get out of Alaska much.
Location: Alaska
Contact:

Re: Any regrets?

Post by AK_Cara »

I had a complete avulsion of my nerves back in 05' and had no movement whatsoever and the doctors told me I had a very low chance of getting any kind of movement from surgery (very low) but I did it anyways because I did not want to be left with the thought of, "What would have happened if I did the surgery?" :?: and I'm very glad I had the surgery because I now have function of my shoulder and bicep and even if I didn't I wouldn't have regretted the surgery, it gives hope and sometimes thats just what the person needs. :) I'd do the surgery again in a heartbeat if they could get me more motion (maybe a lil wrist of fingers :roll: ) but sadly they cannot. The nerves they take from other parts of the body typically goes unnoticed becaues I had a nerve taken from both legs and I've only noticed the numbing I bump by foot just right on the coffee table. :shock: :lol:
Master DIVER TOM
Posts: 759
Joined: Tue May 05, 2009 11:51 am

Re: Any regrets?

Post by Master DIVER TOM »

I thought I would responded to the never given a opportunity :shock:
Being born in the 50s doctors just left me like road kill with no help , treatment ,surgery . My mom tried so hard to find help for my birth erbs. By 10 doctors told my mom that there was no help for me and your child will have just adjust to his limitation.
So I live my life doing that Etc , my post here ;)
The crazy part I found this sight and all the things that could of been done :( Over my life time no doctor ever told me there was anything that would help my erbs over all these years.
I hope to god you Guys never regret getting treatment or surgery, I and so many others post here and it seems that determination to overcome what your left with will happen or by Quest you might finding the right doctor ;)
Sometimes it ends up act of god and the determination to preserver ;) Its Way more than just hope :D By our post :D
I know mr positive ;) :roll:
Tom
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hilltopfwb
Posts: 82
Joined: Fri Dec 11, 2009 11:50 am
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: May 24, 2008 an 88 year old lady did not see me and pulled out while I was riding my 06 HD Street Glide. The accident resulted in 9 broken bones and brain hemorrhaging. The accident's most serious results was two avulsions confirmed in my C6 & C7 vertebrae. In Oct of 08 Dr. Li of Wake Forest University performed nerve transfer lasting around 8 hours in surgery. I have limited use now of my left arm. It took until July of 09 before it moved at all, and now is moving limited. I experience burning pain in my left hand, staying busy helps keep the mind off of burning. I visited the Mayo Clinic May, 2010 and consulted with their brachial plexus team. May 1, 2012, I underwent a muscle transfer at Wake Forest University. This surgery was deemed a success and I have more movement in my arm.
Location: Fuquay Varina NC 27526
Contact:

Re: Any regrets?

Post by hilltopfwb »

I have had nerve transfers and a muscle transfer. I couldn't be happier with the improvement I recommend the surgery highly. Best of luck!
User avatar
thebrain
Posts: 33
Joined: Mon Jul 19, 2010 12:47 am
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: 6/12/10 avulsion of several roots due to motorcycle accident. So far I've
had two nerve transfers: intercostal to biceps and spinal accessory to
superscapular. The superscapular is working, holding my shoulder in place so I don't have to wear a sling all the time, and I can 'lift' that arm a few degrees away from my body. The bicep is firing but not enough to flex, yet.
Location: Palo Alto, CA

Re: Any regrets?

Post by thebrain »

I avulsed multiple nerve roots and had no function from the shoulder down. I have had two nerve transfers - spinal accessory to supraspinatus, and intercostal to bicep. It has only been 2.5 years, but as of now, I am leaning towards amputation anyway. It's a really hard call to make though, since if you're going to do something surgically, you need to do it quickly - you can't wait around and see how your feelings about your bpi limb change, or don't change, as time goes on. I just don't feel like whatever limited use I get out of my left arm is worth the trouble of hauling it around.
Master DIVER TOM
Posts: 759
Joined: Tue May 05, 2009 11:51 am

Re: Any regrets?

Post by Master DIVER TOM »

I wish that people do not wish amputation but some do by need :( I also know that parts of arms , etc could be used like hearts , etc. I wonder is there a waiting list on arms,nerves ,etc???
Tom
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