Cerebral Palsy Medications
Medications are used throughout a patient’s cerebral palsy treatment to address unique combinations of symptoms and disabilities. These medications may include antidepressants, anticonvulsants, anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxants, nerve blocks, botox, baclofen, anticholinergics, and stool softeners.
Spasticity Medication
The medications used in cerebral palsy treatment are to address involuntary movement and generalized spasticity – an abnormal contraction of the muscles. These conditions are usually treated with medications that relax the muscle given orally, through injections, or administered continuously through a small pump.
Treatment for Uncontrolled Movement
Some children with cerebral palsy have abnormal movements similar to Parkison’s disease. These movements are treated with anti-parkinson drugs, anti-spasticity drugs, and muscle relaxants.
Seizure Medication
Seizure medications may also be included in the patient’s cerebral palsy treatment as injuries to the brain increase the chances of developing seizures. Seizures are abnormal increases in brain activity. Treatment involves slowing down brain activity and two common drug types used to treat these seizures include barbiturates and benzodiazepines.
Cerebral Palsy Surgeries
Certain neuromuscular complications of cerebral palsy may cause pain and affect movement despite medical therapy. In these cases, surgery may be needed to improve the patient’s quality of life.
Orthopedic Surgery
Surgical procedures are performed on children with severe contractures to return arms, legs, or hips to their normal positions. These procedures are also performed to lessen pain, improve mobility, and lengthen muscles and tendons that were shortened by contractures.
Neurosurgery
Neurosurgery may also help treat the complications of cerebral palsy. These procedures involve the placement of pumps to directly administer antispasmodic medications to the spinal cord, and selective removal of nerve tracts in the spinal cord or brain responsible for abnormal movements and spasticity.
Funding Your child's Treatment
Having a child with cerebral palsy and ensuring your child’s quality of life through treatment can present seemingly insurmountable costs. The burden of these costs however is not necessarily yours. Cerebral palsy may be caused by an injury that occurs shortly before, during, or after birth - with conditions leading up to injury that often could have been prevented. Understanding what caused your child to experience cerebral palsy, and who may have been responsible, will help you determine who is financially liable for the costs of treatment.
If your child is undergoing cerebral palsy treatment, and you suspect his or her injury could have been prevented, contact us for a free consultation to discuss whether we can help.