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FAQs
Is it important to get copies of medical records?
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You should request copies of all test results and films at the time of testing. It is important to keep your own personal file of all medical reports, tests and films. These copies of test results and films will make your visits to other specialists easier and less stressful. OBPI adults frequently face the lack of medical information on the extent of their initial injury as well as the lack of medical information on the care and treatment they require to function without incurring secondary injuries due to compensation.
There are few long range studies on this injury, therefore many doctors are not aware of the secondary injuries or the toll it takes on your body. This injury impacts your entire body and this impact may have been undocumented and untreated for most of your life. Because of this, all records should be checked for accurate information and kept by you. Should you decide to file for retirement disability (through SSD or your place of employment), these tests will present the necessary documentation and information.
What are the diagnostic tools for determining extent of injury?
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There are several which look for sensory and motor changes in the affected limb. They include EMG (electromyography), which utilizes a needle electrode inserted into the muscle to measure the ability of the muscle to respond to the electrical impulse, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan and possibly CT Myelogram, where contrast dye is injected into the spine and scanned to see if there is leakage from the spine or other indicators of damage. Surgical exploration may be scheduled to physically examine the extent of injury.
Is arthritis more of a problem for adults with this injury?
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Yes, arthritis is associated with overuse of the unaffected shoulder, arm and hand and also with surgeries on the affected shoulder, arm and hand. Many adults have reported good results in pain management for arthritis by using various prescription drugs.
My doctor says to wait and see what happens. What do I watch for?
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Fortunately the wait and see method is successful most of the time with birth palsies. However, too much optimism can lead to too much waiting and delay appropriate care. The timing and degree of muscle recovery in the first 3 to 9 months of life is very predictive of recovery and highlights those infants who may need nerve surgery. If your child has a Horner's syndrome (different size eye pupils, eyelid opening), then the prognosis is poor and you need to see a specialist in the first 3 months of life. Otherwise, you should monitor your child's ability to open his or her fingers, lift his/her arm to the shoulder level, and raise his or her hand to their mouth. Also, be certain to keep the range of motion of all joints full in order to prevent contracture or shoulder dislocation. It is very helpful to work with a therapist with experience with infants with brachial plexus birth palsies. If there is uncertainty, please seek consultation with a specialist in this area.
(UBPN thanks Dr. Peter Waters for contributing this answer)
What are some ways to handle manual tasks?
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Many have found that just asking for help is a challenge but in the long run, it makes things easier. Usually you can be very creative and use your legs for many different things, your thighs can in a sense replace an arm for opening jars, or you can use your knees to hold something down to work on it. There isn’t anything we can’t do; we just do them a bit differently!
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