‪I snapped this photo a few days ago when I was in the city of Perth. I love it! “Believe and act as if it were impossible to fail” ~ Charles Kettering ❤ Brachial Girl #brachialplexus #brachialplexusinjury #brachialplexusinjuryaustralia #erbspalsy #nerveinjury #nerves #muscles #birthinjury #nervetransfer #disability #brachialgirl #blog #paralysis #scar #diagnosis #depression #healing #emotional #emotion #sadness #strength #inspirationalquote #inspire #believe #believeinyourse

‪So … I wanted to explain something … to look at my website or Facebook page, it may seem as though I am vain, what with all the photos of myself … But there is a reason behind it. When you have had a traumatic accident, and lose the use of your dominant arm like I did, you lose not only the use of your arm … but your self confidence, your sense of self, your dignity, your independence, your sense of future, your sense of being useful and worthwhile, and many other things. Ha

Trauma survivors often have symptoms instead of memories. Those with traumatic brachial plexus injuries are no exception. Depression Irratibility Loss of interest Disassociation Numbing Decreased concentration Insomnia Emotional overwhelm Hopelessness Loss of a sense of the future Shame and worthlessness Little or no memories Nightmares Flashback Hypervigilance Mistrust Anxiety Panic attacks Chronic pain Headaches Substance abuse Eating disorders Feeling

Brachial Girl has her own Facebook page now. Like and share. I'll be posting personal stuff about my own brachial plexus injury journey, as well as useful links, news and everything I find that I think will be of some use to you all. Facebook - Brachial Girl #brachialplexus #brachialplexusinjury #brachialplexusinjuryaustralia #erbspalsy #nerveinjury #nerves #muscles #birthinjury #nervetransfer #disability #motorcycleaccident #brachialgirl #blog #surgery #paralysis #scar #depr

People will never truly understand something until it happens to them. They try. But no one really understands or knows the inner struggles. #brachialplexus #brachialplexusinjury #brachialplexusinjuryaustralia #erbspalsy #nerveinjury #nerves #muscles #birthinjury #nervetransfer #disability #motorcycleaccident #traumaticinjury #brachialgirl #blog #paralysis #scar #diagnosis #loss #devastation #healing #emotional #bikecrash #inspirationalquote #emotion #sadness #pain #onearm #o

So I’ve been searching to see what nerve supplements and pain relief are available. Here’s a link to my search results. Always check with your Doctor before taking anything. Nerve Supplements #brachialplexus #brachialplexusinjury #brachialplexusinjuryaustralia #erbspalsy #nerveinjury #nerves #muscles #birthinjury #nervetransfer #disability #motorcycleaccident #traumaticinjury #brachialgirl #blog #medicine #paralysis #healing #pain #supplements #nervepain #nerverepair #nervere

Experimenting for the next week with this little item. Let’s see if it helps stimulate my newly working muscles to get stronger! I’ll post a review in a week. This is a TENS and EMS machine. I”m using the EMS program on my bicep and anterior deltoid. The TENS function is believed to provide pain relief. #brachialplexus #brachialplexusinjury #brachialplexusinjuryaustralia #erbspalsy #nerveinjury #nerves #muscles #birthinjury #nervetransfer #disability #motorcycleaccident #trau

RAISING AWARENESS IN AUSTRALIA FOR BRACHIAL PLEXUS AND ERB’S PALSY INJURIES Did you know … The reported incidence of birth related brachial plexus injuries can vary from 2-5 of 1000 births. Out of these around 80% or more resolve themselves. The rest will go through multi-discipline treatments, including OT and PT therapies, nerve and tendon transfer surgeries and other treatments. Besides the birth injury, other causes of brachial plexus injuries include car, motorcycle, spo

I definitely have a bone infection or osteomyelitis. I’ve had a course of antibiotics and the infection is under control but still present. I had xrays which showed the broken bones aren’t healed yet, so although my surgeon, Alex O’Beirne wants to remove the metal plates which can give the infection a place to hide, we have to wait till the bone is healed. So for now, I just have to watch my diet and stress to keep my immune system healthy. Sigh …. #brachialplexus #brachialpl

So I’ve had a check up and my surgeon Alex O'Beirne suspects I have a bone infection. Not good. I have to have some xrays tomorrow then see him again on Friday. If the broken bones are completely healed he wants to operate and remove the metal plates because even though the infection may be under control it can hide between the bone and the metal and cause huge problems later. Still don’t know what the cause of all this is. .. Looks like I’ll be heading back to the operating

So a few days ago I noticed a small lump about 2-3 inches above my wrist … it was hard and sore. We thought it might be a bit of tendonitis due to its position and that I’m using my arm and hand a bit more, perhaps the tendons there were rubbing on the metal plates that were put on to my broken ulnar bone back on 2nd March. It got more painful and then today I noticed my arm and hand were really swollen and very sore (more so than normal). It was mid evening by the time I tho

Just because I'm strong enough to handle the pain, doesn't mean I deserve it. #brachialplexus #brachialplexusinjury #brachialplexusinjuryaustralia #erbspalsy #nerveinjury #nerves #muscles #birthinjury #disability #motorcycleaccident #brachialgirl #blog #nervesurgery #paralysis #scar #depression #loss #devastation #healing #emotional #bikecrash #sadness #crying #tears #strength #pain #onehand #onearm #inspirationalquote

Well, it’s been 5 weeks since my 4 nerve transfers. Apologies for not posting much lately. Life’s changed a lot due to my employment contract coming to an end, and my husband being made redundant. Needless to say my arm is the least of my problems right now… Anyway, I’ve got some snaps of my scars ….. and I’m happy to say I’m getting some twitching in my brachialis and bicep. I’ve lost my nice strong tricep however, as it was shared with the bicep… but hopefully it will come

So it’s been 2 weeks since the nerve transfer surgery. Obviously I haven;t been able to do much therapy, but I have been working on my hand as best I can. I took the dressings off the incisions on the weekend. It looks so very messy. But I think the surgical glue is making it look much worse than it is! The glue should come off in a week or so. I’m sort of nervous to see what scars look like. I guess it’s been a pretty uneventful 2 weeks - except for work, business and moving

I’m doing OK. Drowsy and sore but doing fine. Thought I’d share some pics … #brachialplexus #brachialplexusinjury #brachialplexusinjuryaustralia #erbspalsy #nerveinjury #nerves #muscles #nervetransfer #disability #brachialgirl #blog #surgery #nervesurgery #paralysis #scar #healing #ot #occupationaltherapy

Hello hello!! Well my 4 nerve transfers apparently went well! Sitting up in hospital bed now. Of course I didn’t get any sleep at all. Hehehe and this medication makes my eyes roll around in my head and makes me dyslexic so typing takes FOREVER!!!!! Makes me feel stupid! Aaaah well! The hospital and staff here at St John of God Subiaco are wonderful! Special shout outs to Jaydon, my lovely day time nurse and Stuart, my night time nurse, who have been awesome! The difference b

Today was a bad, bad day. Started out waking with the usual agony. Getting off to work was a dismal failure. So I opted to work from home. Forgot my meds till lunchtime so I was in agony, and starting to withdraw - hot and cold sweats, light headed etc. Went to my pre-op nerve conduction test and was told the 2 of the nerves my surgeon wanted to use to transfers were crap. Cried all the way home then tried to keep working. I spent the late afternoon feeling full of self pity.

Well, I’ve taken it upon myself to establish some information and support in Australia for people with brachial plexus injuries as there is none! I’ve started a Facebook page to post info, and a Facebook group for people to join, chat and get support from locals. Now to get some suppliers, surgeons, therapists and patients on board! Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/pages/brachialplexusaustralia Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/brachialplexusinjuryaust

So my GivMohr sling has arrived. It's a hemi sling and is also worn by stroke victims. My OT was wonderful enough to meet me at lunch today at St John of God Subiaco (Perth, Australia) so she could fit it for me. It will take some getting used to as it puts a bit of pressure on my hand … but it’s pushing my humerus bone backwards and up into my shoulder socket so no more pain from the subluxation (common with brachial plexus injury) and I don’t feel like my arm is falling off

This is the new sling my OT has ordered for me: It will help with my shoulder subluxation and the related pain. It should also be more comfortable not having my arm in front of my body. And most of will sit under my clothes. Website is here: http://www.givmohrsling.com #brachialplexus #brachialplexusinjury #brachialplexusinjuryaustralia #erbspalsy #nerveinjury #nerves #muscles #birthinjury #nervetransfer #disability #traumaticinjury #brachialgirl #blog #paralysis #healing #sl