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Living with a Brachial Plexus Injury (Erb's Palsy)

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Bicep and External Rotation Update

Apr 3, 2016
1 min

Bicep and External Rotation Update

This is a video of my bicep and external rotation doing a reach and pull action 13 months post accident 9 months post nerve transfer #brachialplexus #brachialplexusinjury #brachialplexusinjuryaustralia #erbspalsy #nerveinjury #nerves #muscles #nervetransfer #disability #brachialgirl #blog #surgery #nervesurgery #paralysis #ot #occupationaltherapy #supraspinatus #infraspinatu #Triceps #Deltoid #TeresMinor #musculocutaneous #brachialis #tricep #strength #bicepcurl #bicep #exer

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Scar update

Apr 3, 2016
1 min

Scar update

So I thought I'd post some photos of my scars so you could see how they are healing. 1 - Across my back to my shoulder from nerve transfer 9 months ago. 2 - Down my upper arm from the nerve transfer 3 - Down my lower arm from the emergency surgery after the accident to fix broken bones. That scar also goes up to the middle of my upper arm but the newer scar is over the top. 4 - Inside of my upper arm and armpit from the nerve transfer surgery 9 months ago. I was concerned abo

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Flat as a tack

Mar 31, 2016
1 min

Flat as a tack

Hey everyone. So at the moment I’m feeling really flat. I’m trying really hard to find a job but no luck. I apply for a heap everyday but the job market here in Perth is really screwed up! I’m so bored! All I do is clean, cook and watch TV! I’m going crazy! This is not who I am! The flip side however, is that I do have some things to do, my husband’s business management chores, bits of work for my own clients, the marketing course I signed up for …. but do you think I can bri

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1 Year Anniversary

Mar 1, 2016
3 min

1 Year Anniversary

So … it’s been awhile. 12 months ago (1st March 2015) I was enjoying a long weekend away with my husband and some friends in Donnybrook, Western Australia. It’s inland from Bunbury. We rode all around the countryside, had an awesome lunch at a pub in Nannup, then headed for Bridgetown. I wasn’t a very experienced rider. I’d been riding an automatic 150cc scooter for 12 months or so and wanted to ride normal bikes with a goal of having my own Harley. My husband’s mate taught m

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Biceps against gravity

Dec 23, 2015
1 min

Biceps against gravity

A bit of bicep action against gravity at last! Thanks to my OT, Jaslyn Cullen for filming www.jaslyncullen.com.au #brachialplexus #brachialplexusinjury #brachialplexusinjuryaustralia #erbspalsy #nerveinjury #nerves #muscles #nervetransfer #disability #brachialgirl #blog #surgery #nervesurgery #subluxation #bicepcurl #bicep #ot #occupationaltherapy #JaslynCullen

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Neuroplasticity - Training Your Brain For No More Pain

Nov 7, 2015
2 min

Neuroplasticity - Training Your Brain For No More Pain

Neuroplasticity … Norman Droidge MD. THE BRAIN THAT CHANGES ITSELF THE BRAIN CAN CHANGE ITSELF. It is a plastic, living organ that can actually change its own structure and function, even into old age. Arguably the most important breakthrough in neuroscience since scientists first sketched out the brain’s basic anatomy, this revolutionary discovery, called neuroplasticity, promises to overthrow the centuries-old notion that the brain is fixed and unchanging. The brain is not,

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EMS machine experiment

Oct 7, 2015
1 min

EMS machine experiment

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

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Brachial Plexus Autralia

Oct 7, 2015
1 min

Brachial Plexus Autralia

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

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Bone infection update

Sep 26, 2015
1 min

Bone infection update

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

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Brachial Plexus Australia

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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Inspirational Quote

Aug 16, 2015
1 min

Inspirational Quote

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

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Scars - 5 weeks Post Transfer

Aug 12, 2015
1 min

Scars - 5 weeks Post Transfer

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

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Post Nerve Transfer Checkup

Jul 23, 2015
2 min

Post Nerve Transfer Checkup

Ok so my surgeon Alex O'Beirne checked me out and said everything is healing well. The glue should come off in the next week or so. He told me he discovered why I can move my hand and fingers when I shouldn’t be able to … apparently I have extra nerve bits going down into my hand. I am an anomaly, he said. Hehehe I can’t move my hand very well but I can wiggle all my fingers and recently I’ve been working on strengthening my wrist so I can now move my hand up and down. Almost

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Post Op Pics

Survived!

Jul 5, 2015
2 min

Survived!

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

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Nerve Transfer Time!

Jul 3, 2015
1 min

Nerve Transfer Time!

Well …. I’m about to go to bed … wake up in 4 hours at 5am to shower and wash with pre-op surgical soap and then it’s off to St John of God Subiaco hospital to meet up with my surgeon Alex O'Beirne and hang out in the operating theatre for about 5 hours! Here’s hoping he gets all 4 nerve transfers done and that they all take beautifully. Fingers crossed. Catch you on the flipside! #brachialplexus #brachialplexusinjury #brachialplexusinjuryaustralia #erbspalsy #nerveinjury #ne

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Nerve Transfer Surgery

Jul 1, 2015
1 min

Nerve Transfer Surgery

OK so I have 3 sleeps to go till my surgery. And next week we’re moving house. I tell you what …. everything in our lives has gone through a massive upheaval all at the same time. Crazy. But we’re almost there. I’m so busy packing up the house, working full time and organising our lives that I haven’t had time to be scared or nervous! I suppose I should be thankful for that! #brachialplexus #brachialplexusinjury #brachialplexusinjuryaustralia #erbspalsy #nerveinjury #nerves #

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Nerve Transfer Surgery

Jun 28, 2015
2 min

Nerve Transfer Surgery

So my surgery is coming up this Saturday 4th of July. I wanted to share the details of the nerves being transferred from and to, as well as info on the damage I have. My surgeon, Dr Alex O’Beirne (Perth, Australia) will splice about 25% of each of the following nerves and join them onto the other nerves as close to the muscles as possible to allow the shortest recovery time possible. Amazing stuff! This is what I’m having transferred - 1. I have no power to rotate my arm at t

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Nerve Transfer Surgery

Jun 25, 2015
1 min

Nerve Transfer Surgery

So I’ve had my pre-operation checkup, another nerve conduction study, and now my surgeon has booked me in for the surgery. The operation will take 4-6 hours.My surgeon, Alex O’Beirne, is going to do 4 nerve transfers in my arm. This will hopefully allow me to lift up my arm, rotate my arm in and out, bend up my elbow, and turn my lower arm (roll it in and out) . I’m having the surgery on the 4th of July at St John of God Private Hospital in Subiaco, Perth, Western Australia.

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Pending surgery

Jun 16, 2015
1 min

Pending surgery

Well its all happening. You’ll be able to call me Frankenstein soon. I saw my surgeon, Dr Alex O'Beirne (Perth, Western Australia) today. He’s the only Brachial Plexus Injury surgeon in Western Australia. I have to have another nerve conduction study on Monday then back to Alex on Tuesday. Then surgery will be scheduled. Eeek! 4 nerve transfers. I didn’t think I’d be scared. But I am ! #brachialplexus #brachialplexusinjury #brachialplexusinjuryaustralia #erbspalsy #nerveinju

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