Brachial Girl
- May 14, 2016
- 11 min
Jobs and Careers - But I have a Brachial Plexus Injury!
Introduction I wanted to talk a bit about brachial plexus injuries and jobs. It’s a pretty broad topic because of the varying degree of injury, so while reading this, keep in mind it is different for everybody. Some people who sustain brachial plexus injuries at birth have little movement of their hand and arm, while others have almost full movement. Often time those people who have traumatic brachial plexus injuries as adults have issues being able to continue their existing
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Brachial Girl
- May 12, 2016
- 2 min
Forget your shoelaces!
Having a Brachial plexus Injury can really limit the clothes and shoes you wear. That might not sound like a big issue, but to us it is. It can affect our jobs, health and fitness, self confidence and our social lives with friends and family. We can learn, with lots of practice, to wear some things that at first seem impossible, but it takes time, and adds to our frustration. So many of us choose to stay home rather than deal with not being able to wear something that is requ
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Brachial Girl
- May 5, 2016
- 2 min
Adaptive Workouts and Weights
Just because we can only use one arm doesn't mean we can't workout, strengthen and be fit. There are in fact many organisations around the world who can help develop workouts and weight lifting programs for for people with brachial plexus injuries. It's an important part of our recovery for our BPI arms, but also the strengthen our working arm. Overuse of our good arm can become a serious problem, so a regular strengthening program is a great idea. Done in moderation of cours
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Brachial Girl
- May 4, 2016
- 4 min
What Does Brachial Plexus Injury Pain Feel Like?
The nerve pain that I experience from my brachial plexus injury, is very unpleasant. Brachial plexus injury pain is very different for everyone. Many of you will know exactly what I'm talking about. Some of you might have it worse than I do. Many of you reading this may get a better understanding of the pain your loved one or patient deals with all the time. People with birth brachial plexus injuries may not feel as much, if any, pain like this. Please Mummies, don't panic ab
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Brachial Girl
- May 4, 2016
- 2 min
Neuroplasticity - changing your brain
I confess that I don't know very much about neuroplasticity, but I do know a lot about nerve pain. If neuroplasticity does infact work, and can help people with brachial plexus injuries (and other chronic pain and conditions) to lessen our lifelong pain, then I happily share this article with you all, and hope that in turn, you will share it with others. Here's the article and below that is a great infographic - "This Nifty Infographic Is a Great Introduction to Neuroplastici
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Brachial Girl
- May 3, 2016
- 1 min
A big thank you for your donation Marleen!
On behalf of Brachial Plexus Australia, I would like to thank Marleen Boom for her generous donation, which helped cover the costs of our legal public notice advising our intention to incorporate the association. Without Marleen, I'd still be only thinking about the future of this organisation! <3 Thank you Marleen! <3 If you would like to donate to help with the costs of registering the association and registering with ASIC, please click here - DONATE Feel free to share the
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Brachial Girl
- May 3, 2016
- 6 min
10 Ways to Sleep with a Brachial Plexus Injury
After my accident, like everybody with brachial plexus injuries, I was forced to sleep on my back. I HATED it so much. I never slept at night. I would sleep 2 hours here and 2 hours there, in bed, on the couch ... anywhere and from pure exhaustion. I was so exhausted and angry I started trying everything. I spent hours every day experimenting, trying to manoevre my arm around, using pillows, in the sling, out of the sling, with the wrist brace, without the wrist brace, and ev
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Brachial Girl
- May 3, 2016
- 1 min
Making a Difference
"Each day when I awake I know I have one more day to make a difference in someone's life" ~ James Mann Something that makes a HUGE difference in my mental attitude when I wake up everyday, is knowing that today, I might find some information, meet someone, know something, know the right contact or just be there for someone, and truly make a positive difference in a persons life. Sure, there is a personal sense of satisfaction, but knowing that in some way, no matter how small
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Brachial Girl
- May 1, 2016
- 2 min
OMG I'm a Uni Student!
So I've enrolled in a Diploma of Counselling through the Australian College of Applied Psychology and a Diploma of Life Coaching through Estrada College which are both online courses through 2 top Australian colleges. They both start in May. I'll have to do a lot of work placement, and submit videos of me doing sessions with "clients" for assessment. Guess my husband will be getting some free sessions hahaha. I'm so excited about it! I can't wait to get stuck into it! 2 at on
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Brachial Girl
- Apr 14, 2016
- 1 min
How To Videos Coming Soon
So today I filmed myself doing lots of things with one hand. I am spending the evening editing and then I’ll post on my you tube channel, then I’ll share on my website and Facebook as well. 😎❤💪🎥🎬🌟💡 ❤ Brachial Girl #brachialplexus #brachialplexusinjury #brachialplexusinjuryaustralia #erbspalsy #nerveinjury #nerves #muscles #birthinjury #nervetransfer #disability #brachialgirl #blog #paralysis #howto #howtovideo #onehand #onearm #onehandhelp #onehanded #onehandedhowto #h
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Brachial Girl
- Apr 13, 2016
- 1 min
Deltoid and Supraspinatus
So small miracle today … besides the HUGE improvement in my deltoids … my supraspinatus has decided it wants to work now. It’s intermittent but Jaslyn, my OT, managed to get it on film! The snow angel movement looks a bit bizarre, amd before filming I managed to do it with a much more normal look to it, but ….. here we are! #brachialplexus #brachialplexusinjury #brachialplexusinjuryaustralia #erbspalsy #nerveinjury #nerves #muscles #birthinjury #nervetransfer #disability #bra
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Brachial Girl
- Apr 13, 2016
- 1 min
It's a small world
So today I decided to get an Uber to see my Occupational Therapist, Jaslyn Cullen, and I got talking with the lovely driver. He talked about his wife’s recent stay in hospital and then I told him about my accident and injury. When I mentioned it can also happen during birth he said that’s what happened to his wife when she was born. She could use her hand and arm but can’t teach up high. What a coincidence! I’m so glad I had some business cards made as I was able to give him
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Brachial Girl
- Apr 11, 2016
- 1 min
Noble Cause - Nominate
LiveTribe Noble Causes is looking for submissions! Do you know a local community organisation which helps out others that could do with some cash? Nominate them now and they could become our next #NobleCauses project! <3 Like maybe BRACHIAL PLEXUS AUSTRALIA <3 Remember, this is a community-powered process and we cannot do it without you! CLICK HERE TO NOMINATE YOUR CAUSE … You can find info about us here -
Brachial Plexus Australia - www.brachialplexusaustralia.com.au (yo
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Brachial Girl
- Apr 3, 2016
- 1 min
Deltoid & External Rotation Update
This is a video of my deltoid and external rotation in action 13 months post accident
9 months post nerve transfer #brachialplexus #brachialplexusinjury #brachialplexusinjuryaustralia #erbspalsy #nerveinjury #nerves #muscles #nervetransfer #disability #blog #paralysis #ot #occupationaltherapy #reinervate #supraspinatus #infraspinatu #Triceps #Deltoid #TeresMinor #musculocutaneous #brachialis #tricep #strength #bicepcurl #bicep #brachialgirl #rehab #rehabilitation #workout #e
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Brachial Girl
- Apr 3, 2016
- 1 min
Bicep Update
So I figured out a way to film myself. This is a video of my bicep movement 13 months post accident
9 months post nerve transfer #brachialplexus #brachialplexusinjury #brachialplexusinjuryaustralia #erbspalsy #nerveinjury #nerves #muscles #nervetransfer #disability #blog #paralysis #supraspinatus #infraspinatu #Triceps #Deltoid #TeresMinor #musculocutaneous #brachialis #tricep #strength #bicepcurl #bicep #workout #exercise #recovery #australia #rehabilitation #rehab
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Brachial Girl
- Mar 21, 2016
- 1 min
Website Facelift
I’ve done a heap of work on the Brachial Plexus Australia website. Design change and some new pages and features! Check it out and share with everyone! www.brachialplexusaustralia.com.au #brachialplexus #brachialplexusinjury #brachialplexusinjuryaustralia #erbspalsy #nerveinjury #nerves #muscles #birthinjury #nervetransfer #disability #motorcycleaccident #traumaticinjury #brachialgirl #blog #paralysis #diagnosis #avulsionnerveroot #C5 #C6 #C7 #C8 #T1 #ot #occupationaltherapy
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Brachial Girl
- Sep 23, 2015
- 1 min
Brachial Plexus Australia
We’re getting there! We now have a temporary landing page online at www.brachialplexusaustralia.com.au
Won’t be too long before we have the actual site up and running!
Exciting!!! I’m also eagerly awaiting the printed contact cards I’ve designed to arrive so the Australian surgeons and therapists can hand these out to patients! And of course us patients can hand them around too! As for me - I’m off to see my OT Jaslyn Cullen today for my weekly visit. 12 week post op check
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Brachial Girl
- Jun 13, 2015
- 1 min
Brachial Plexus Australia Support Group
I've started a new Facebook group connecting people in Australia who suffer from brachial plexus injury - here's a link. Brachial Plexus Australia - Facebook Group #brachialplexus #brachialplexusinjury #brachialplexusinjuryaustralia #erbspalsy #nerveinjury #nerves #muscles #birthinjury #nervetransfer #disability #motorcycleaccident #traumaticinjury #brachialgirl #blog #medicine #surgery #nervesurgery #nervegraft #muscletransfer #paralysis #hospital #avulsionnerveroot #C5 #C6
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Brachial Girl
- Apr 28, 2015
- 1 min
Nerve areas of the arm
This image shows the areas of the arm that each of the brachial plexus nerves effects. Source #brachialgirl #brachialplexusinjuryaustralia #brachialplexusinjury #brachialplexus #erbspalsy #paralysis #muscletransfer #nervegraft #nervesurgery #birthinjury #medicine #nervetransfer #australia #muscles #disability #surgery #injury #birth #traumaticinjury #motorcycleaccident #disabilitysupport #onehanded #onehand #onearm #nerveinjury #nerves
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Brachial Girl
- Apr 28, 2015
- 1 min
The Brachial Plexus Nerves
This image shows the brachial plexus nerves. These nerves carry signal from the brain to the muscles of the arm. They also supply the skin with "sensation". #brachialplexus #brachialplexusinjury #brachialplexusinjuryaustralia #erbspalsy #nerveinjury #birth #injury #nerves #muscles #onearm #onehand #onehanded #motorcycleaccident #traumaticinjury #disability #disabilitysupport #australia
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