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Cerebral Palsy Treatments
Cerebral Palsy is a disorder in which damage to the brain causes muscle impairment and loss of control in the areas of balance and body movement. Babies that have this condition often times develop at a slower rate then a physically healthy child. At times, a child with Cerebral Palsy may be intellectually disabled as well. Although Cerebral Palsy cannot be cured it can be treated in many different ways.
Because children with Cerebral Palsy have less muscle control and tone, physical therapy is often used to help the child have better and improved muscle tone and flexibility. Physical therapy may also involve stretching exercises, muscle toning and strengthening exercises that will help the child have more control over things such as holding their head up, etc. The main goal in using physical therapy as a treatment for a child with Cerebral Palsy is to prevent further damage to the muscles including minimizing contractures. Often times a brace may be included as part of the physical therapy program for the child. Each therapy session will be configured with the specific individual needs of the child in mind.
Medication is another treatment that is often used for a child with Cerebral Palsy. These medications include muscle relaxer's and seizure medications. Unfortunately many children with this disorder will suffer from seizures. Medication therapy and treatment can help prevent seizures or at least lower the number of times they occur. Medications are also used to treat involuntary muscle movements. Muscle relaxer's can help relax muscles that tend to become rigid and stiff. For seizures, a commonly prescribed medication is one of the many available that include a benzodiazepine formula. This type of drug elevates the levels of dopamine which decreases the rigidity of muscles. Generally a child with Cerebral Palsy will be seen by a neurologist to have their seizure control treatment program started.
Surgery can be another treatment for Cerebral Palsy if medications do not provide the proper amount of relief. It can also be used as a treatment if there is a good chance it will reduce particularly bad symptoms. One such type of surgery that may be attempted is called dorsal rhizotomy. During this surgery certain nerves are severed where they connect to the spinal cord. This surgery has been very helpful for some children that suffer from extreme muscle spasms. Many children with Cerebral Palsy may suffer from digestion problems as well, that can be reduced by the insertion of a feeding tube. This type of surgery carries only a small risk and is considered to be an out patient procedure in most cases. A feeding tube is most often used when the child has difficulty in swallowing .
Breathing problems may be a common occurrence in children that have Cerebral Palsy. Normally a Pulmonologist will be called in to provide treatment for this symptom. The treatments for breathing difficulties in a child with Cerebral Palsy often include breathing exercises that aide the muscles in the lungs to properly expand.
Cerebral Palsy is caused by a variety of reasons. It usually occurs before or right after birth. The brain damage that results from this disorder cannot be cured. At times the brain damage can occur early in pregnancy for unknown reasons. Unfortunately many newborns suffer from Cerebral Palsy due to an injury during the birth process. Because Cesarean Sections may be frowned upon by some doctors, the newborn is delivered in a normal fashion instead of by C-Section, which results in major injury to the brain that could have been prevented. If your child suffers from Cerebral Palsy due to a birth injury, please contact our law firm for a free case evaluation.