United Brachial Plexus Network

hey my name is craig! im so happy i found this site, i was in a motorcycle accident last year 'oct 7 2007. i suffer from a brachial plexus injury. i have little movement in my hand, my fingers can bend down a bit but not up, my wrist can bend down but not up as well.

i found it really hard at first, i was always depressed, i couldnt live with the pain. then i started using what little movement i had in my everyday life, and started being able to pretty much whatever i wanted. just 3 months after the accident i got my bike fixed up (05 Honda CBR600RR) i jumped on it lifted my right arm onto the throttle with my left arm and with that little downward movement i had in my wrist away i went that was the happiest i have been since the accident. over the summer i went on a few 1000 km rides.

On May 7, 2008 i went to the Foot Hills Hospital in Calgary Alberta, (Im from Cape Breton NS) where Dr.Midha preformed surgery on my arm. They took the accesory nerve from my hand and they took 2 pecktorial nerves and reconnected them to my spine, or over lapped them or whatever they did im not a surgen lol . i started getting movement back just a few weeks ago, i can bend my elbow, its not much but its a start. i seen the specialist yesterday and they dont seem very confident, sayin 'don't get your hopes up, we don't no how strong its going to get' but it cant get any worse i guess.

anyways just happy i found this site and wanted to let you know a little about me and my injury!

and one more thing i've been struggling with is work, im still undecided what i want to do for a long term career, im 23 years old, i'd like to get a start at something soon.
what do you's all do?

.....im not a person that can sit in an office, i like working with my hands... am i screwed or what ? lol

Welcome to the board...sorry you had to find us, but glad you did. My husband was also injured in a dirtbike accident, just two months before you actually. Welcome aboard!

BTW- My husband and honeymooned in Nova Scotia and spent most of our time on Cape Breton Island----it's a little slice of heaven-we loved it!

welcome as all of us kinda sorry you had to find us but at least you did...

I had a bike accident in 99. I have lost complete use of my left arm. I own a motorcycle shop so it was tough. I used to do a fair amount of wrenching etc. that now I cannot do. I had to find another way to do what i love. I do a fair amount of internet business and have my brother who helps me run the service dept.

You will find a way to do things if you are determined enough. I have recently built with lots of friends help a new race car. I used to race before i started my bike shop and it has always been my dream to race again once the shop got on its feet. I have electronic fuel injection on the race car so i can do most tuning from my laptop. I havent gotten back behind the wheel yet but I hope to drive it someday. Its quite fast so far we went 195mph at a street car race in Orlando last month so dont discount yourself.

yes i still have the pain but i have tried to learn how to manage it. most days are not bad but occasionally I have a bad one. I am seriuosly considering amputation though as the stupid arm gets in my way when im trying to do things everyone else does.

I hope you get more recovery and good luck in whatever you do

good for you man, i didn't realize how lucky i am to have some movement, my wrist moves down, getting some finger extension back , i can bend my elbow pretty good since a few weeks now , my forearm muscle is hard as a rock and just noticed today in thearpy when i try to flex i can feel a bit in my bicep. and this all just came out of no where, its a big confidence builder for me, i had surgery 7 months ago and its really starting to show.

And it doesnt stop me from doing what i love, i always find a way, like you said just gotta be determened. I had the CBR goin 260 - 270kph countless times since the injury, its gets a bit shakey but i know my limits now and don't push it if its not the right stretch or place.


Did you have surgery on your arm? sorry to hear that you lost complete use, that must be hard, i asked the docs about amputation the first few months of the injury because one doc told me stright up 'don't even bother getting surgery , it won't help, its a waste of time, it won't get any stronger then it is anyway'.

What kind of car are ya building? im into racing a bit, not as much any more but my friends are into the oldies. Close buddy has a 74 duster with a 360 in it, his ol man has a 69 superbee, 440 6 pack my dream car lol

Me and another friend took his dads 1968 belvedere for a drive one night when i was 15. badddddd idea.... ended up smokin a telephone pole doin well over 200km. cleaned 3 poles, knocked out the power in the whole town for a day and a half, broke my back in 3 places, lumbar 2 and 3, messed up my spine , hospitalized for a few months.

im just always hurting myself. i can deffently say i learned a lession from this injury tho.

It sucks tho man, if you amputate can ya get a prosthetic or something? i really hope something works out for ya bro. take care man, thanks for comment!

Hey Smokinex

Thanks for sharing your experience..its inspiring

I am 3 1/2 months in to my injury...the doctors told me I had total avulsion, I would never use my arm again, and surgery is pointless.

I can feel pressure in my hand and forearm...I have hot and cold flashes at my elbow, shoulder, back and chest...and I have feeling on certain areas of my upper arm...though no movement below my shoulder

If I listened to the doctors I would have given up hope but thanks to people on this forum, I am positive about getting some movement back...and looking for a second opinion and surgery.

I was working on becoming a photographer before my accident...

Rock