Who to see in Southern California

Treatments, Rehabilitation, and Recovery
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basil512

Who to see in Southern California

Post by basil512 »

Hey there, My husband suffered a brachial plexus injury in an auto accident on 4/5/2013. We live in the eastern Sierras of California, he flipped our truck on a mountain road. He was in a Reno hospital for 2 months and now we are just learning of what exactly this type of injury is. He has paralysis in his left deltoid and bicep and other regional muscles. His hand and forearm work pretty well. When he was released from the hospital they explained his condition as "some nerve damage". it wasn't until I read his discharge pprwk that I saw brachial plexus injury and looked it up. I was pretty much horrified. So now we are trying to find anyone who can give us some sort of a definitve answer on the severity of his condition. He had an MRI last week and they explain whats going on in his C6-C5 nerve roots as a defect. What does that mean? We are currently looking for a specialist in So Cal. We live outside of Mammoth Lakes and we go to Mammoth Hospital, which being a major ski resort you would think they would know more about this type of injury, but no. I need some elementary insight here, thanks.
Carolyn J
Posts: 3424
Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2004 1:22 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: LOBPI. I am 77 yrs old and never had a name for my injuries until 2004 when I found UBPN at age 66.

My injuries are: LOBPI on upper body and Cerebrael Palsy on the lower left extremities. The only intervention I've had is a tendon transplant from my left leg to my left foot to enable flexing t age 24 in 1962. Before that, my foot would freeze without notice on the side when wearing heels AND I always did wear them at work "to fit in" I also stuttered until around age 18-19...just outgrew it...no therapy for it. Also suffered from very very low self esteem; severe Depression and Anxiety attacks started at menopause. I stuffed emotions and over-compensated in every thing I did to "fit in" and be "invisible". My injuries were Never addressed or talked about until age 66. I am a late bloomer!!!!!

I welcome any and all questions about "My Journey".
There is NO SUCH THING AS A DUMB QUESTION.
Sharing helps to Heal. HUGS do too.
Location: Tacoma WA
Contact:

Re: Who to see in Southern California

Post by Carolyn J »

basil512
There is a Medical Resources List/Link on the Home page.Good Luck. Only a BPI SPECIALIST can give you the full diagnosis.
Carolyn J
LOBPI/75
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

Re: Who to see in Southern California

Post by hubbard »

I hope, for your husbands sake, that the nerves are just stretched! My 27yr old suffered a traumatic BPI one year ago. We found help thru the BPI clinic at mayo. We have gone to Rochester, mn but I noticed they have a clinic in az also. The phone # is 800-446-2279. They may be able to give you answers, or ask what kind of therapy he stood be doing! If the nerves are avulsed (pulled out) of the spinal cord, they have some surgeries to help, but like them done before 6 months post injury. If the nerves are stretched, keep in mind that the nerves can repair at about an inch a month. Good luck! I talked to a guy in my area that had gotten the nerves repaired by using the nerves in his calves (Also done at mayo), and he has regained all movement. Keep up the hope and start calling and talking to people and find the help,
User avatar
Christopher
Posts: 845
Joined: Wed Jun 18, 2003 10:09 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: Date of Injury: 12/15/02

Level of Injury:
-dominant side C5, C6, & C7 avulsed. C8 & T1 stretched & crushed

BPI Related Surgeries:
-2 Intercostal nerves grafted to Biceps muscle,
-Free-Gracilis muscle transfer to Biceps Region innervated with 2 Intercostal nerves grafts.
-2 Sural nerves harvested from both Calves for nerve grafting.
-Partial Ulnar nerve grafted to Long Triceps.
-Uninjured C7 Hemi-Contralateral cross-over to Deltoid muscle.
-Wrist flexor tendon transfer to middle, ring, & pinky finger extensors.

Surgical medical facility:
Brachial Plexus Clinic at The Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN
(all surgeries successful)

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."
~Theodore Roosevelt
Location: Los Angeles, California USA

Re: Who to see in Southern California

Post by Christopher »

Sorry to hear about your husbands accident and injury.

The straight and simple:
Don't settle for anyone that isn't a BPI specialist (more so a TBP specialist -traumatic brachial plexus injury). Even the top of the top neurosurgeons don't know what to do with this injury. You must go to a top TBPI specialist. In my opinion the BPI Clinic at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester MN is the place to go. If you are going to see multiple surgeons (as I did in the U.S. and in Europe), at least include the Mayo on your visit list so you can compare differences and surgical options.

I live in Los Angeles (where I had my accident 10 years ago), and while there are some specialist in Southern California that will treat BPI and have experience with BPI, none can provide the expertise and options for best recovery that the Mayo can (this is all my own person experience and opinion of course).

Call them up and schedule an appointment ASAP. Don't wait any longer. Best surgical option for repair is at the 4 month post injury date, up to 6 months.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/brachial-plex ... ments.html
Minnesota
Contact the Brachial Plexus Clinic at:
507-538-1988
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time, Monday through Friday

For the best available accurate diagnostics I recommend getting CT Myelogram and a MR Neurography. MRI's on their own are not conclusive enough. As far as I know exploratory surgery is still the best way to truly identify injury specifics.

Best of Luck,
Christopher
User avatar
Christopher
Posts: 845
Joined: Wed Jun 18, 2003 10:09 pm
Injury Description, Date, extent, surgical intervention etc: Date of Injury: 12/15/02

Level of Injury:
-dominant side C5, C6, & C7 avulsed. C8 & T1 stretched & crushed

BPI Related Surgeries:
-2 Intercostal nerves grafted to Biceps muscle,
-Free-Gracilis muscle transfer to Biceps Region innervated with 2 Intercostal nerves grafts.
-2 Sural nerves harvested from both Calves for nerve grafting.
-Partial Ulnar nerve grafted to Long Triceps.
-Uninjured C7 Hemi-Contralateral cross-over to Deltoid muscle.
-Wrist flexor tendon transfer to middle, ring, & pinky finger extensors.

Surgical medical facility:
Brachial Plexus Clinic at The Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN
(all surgeries successful)

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."
~Theodore Roosevelt
Location: Los Angeles, California USA

Re: Who to see in Southern California

Post by Christopher »

if So Cal is truly your only option:

DR FREDRIC L. EDELMAN in LA
http://ubpn.org/forums/18/8425
http://neurosurgery.ucla.edu/body.cfm?i ... ion=detail

no experience with Dr Pouratian, but his credentials are solid:
http://www.uclahealth.org/body.cfm?xyzp ... &ref=95328

plus UCLA uses MR Neurography for diagnostics


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