Questions?What Are the Treatments for Cerebral Palsy?
There is no cure for cerebral palsy because it is caused by permanent brain damage. However, there are treatment options available to manage the condition.
Cerebral palsy treatment typically aims to ease painful symptoms, improve overall mobility, and improve quality of life. There are several common forms of treatment that are used to treat cerebral palsy.
Common cerebral palsy treatment options include:
- Alternative therapy
- Medication
- Occupational therapy
- Physical therapy
- Speech therapy
- Surgery
Depending on the severity of your child’s cerebral palsy, different treatment plans may be recommended. Your child’s pediatric specialist and/or neurologist will consider the severity of symptoms, type of cerebral palsy, and any coexisting conditions when developing a treatment plan that best meets your child’s needs.
Speak with one of our caring registered nurse advocates to see if you may be eligible to receive compensation for cerebral palsy treatment.
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— Kristin Proctor, RNC-OB, On-Staff Registered Nurse
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Therapy Options for Cerebral Palsy
One of the most common forms of cerebral palsy treatment is therapy. Different types of therapy can help improve the quality of life of a child with cerebral palsy.
Depending on your child’s symptoms and developmental delays, they may require a combination of a few types of therapy to improve movement and communication skills.
Learn more about different types of cerebral palsy therapy below.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy uses specially designed exercises to improve the overall mobility and muscle function of a child with cerebral palsy. Children with mild or severe cerebral palsy symptoms may benefit from physical therapy.
Physical therapy aims to:
- Control jerky, spastic movements
- Fix fluctuating muscle tone
- Improve balance and coordination
- Improve standing, walking, etc.
- Loosen tight muscles
- Strengthen loose muscles
Physical therapists use exercise equipment and orthotics, such as braces or splints, to improve a child’s overall movement. Physical therapy can also manage and improve the symptoms of any type of cerebral palsy.
Physical therapy can be used to treat any type of cerebral palsy.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy is used to help those with cerebral palsy become more independent while performing daily activities at home, school, or in other environments.
This type of therapy focuses on refining fine motor skills of the arms, wrists, hands, and fingers.
Occupational therapy can help children complete daily tasks such as:
- Bathing
- Brushing teeth or hair
- Drawing
- Dressing
- Drinking from a cup
- Eating
- Writing
Occupational therapists provide children and parents with recommendations for changing the child’s environment to make playing and learning more effective. They may also suggest adaptive equipment designed to increase independence in children with cerebral palsy.
Speech Therapy
Cerebral palsy can affect muscles in the mouth and tongue, so some children may have a hard time speaking clearly and may experience frequent drooling.
Speech therapy is very useful in these cases. Therapists can help children and families learn to communicate more effectively through sign language, communication boards, and more. They can also provide guidance on how to use helpful communication devices such as computers and voice synthesizers.
Alternative Therapies
There are other alternative therapy options in addition to more traditional forms of cerebral palsy therapy.
Alternative therapy options include:
- Acupuncture: This therapy uses small needles that are put into specific areas of the body to release tension in tight muscles.
- Aquatic therapy: Water takes pressure off tense muscles and allows children to move more freely to strengthen and calm their muscles.
- Hippotherapy (horse therapy): This therapy helps improve children’s mobility, posture, and balance while horseback riding.
- Music therapy: Using musical instruments can help children improve their cognitive, auditory, and fine motor functions.
Estimate the potential cost of your child’s care and see if financial help is available.
Medication for Cerebral Palsy
Medication can be an effective treatment method for many symptoms of cerebral palsy. Since the symptoms of cerebral palsy vary from person to person, the medications to treat them depend on which symptoms are prevalent.
There are different types of medications to combat symptoms such as seizures and muscle tightness/spasticity that often appear in cases of cerebral palsy.
Common medications for spasticity include:
- Baclofen
- Dantrium®
- Valium®
- Zanaflex®
Common medications for seizures include:
- Depakote®
- Dilantin®
- Lamictal®
- Tegretol®
- Trileptal®
Some children may not need medication if they are not experiencing spasticity or epilepsy.
Many children with cerebral palsy may also be diagnosed with other co-occurring conditions that may require medication, such as digestive, oral, behavioral, respiratory, or skin problems.
Surgery for Cerebral Palsy
Doctors may recommend surgery for cerebral palsy if other treatments do not improve impairments. However, surgery is often considered a last resort.
There are surgeries that may help reduce certain cerebral palsy symptoms, such as spasticity and contractures. Surgery may be needed if symptoms do not respond well to treatment over time or cause complications that cannot be eased by therapy.
Types of cerebral palsy surgeries include:
- Baclofen pump implantation: Permanently installs a medical device that pumps baclofen to the spinal cord to treat spastic movements
- Muscle lengthening: Stretches out tight muscles to help improve a child’s fine motor skills
- Selective dorsal rhizotomy: Cuts nerves connecting the muscles to the spinal cord to reduce spasticity
- Stereotactic surgery: Uses X-ray beams on the brain and spinal cord to treat spastic and athetoid cerebral palsy symptoms
- Tendon lengthening: Fixes permanently tightened tendons to improve a child’s motor function
- Tenotomy: Cuts the tendons to improve a child’s ability to move and possibly prevent hip dislocation
Some children with cerebral palsy may not qualify for certain surgeries, depending on their diagnosis and symptoms. It is important to consult with your doctor to find out which treatment option is best for your child.
Can Treatment Cure Cerebral Palsy?
Therapy and other forms of treatment do not try to cure cerebral palsy but rather aim to improve the lives of those affected. Therapists are concerned with helping people become as independent as possible since there is no known cure for cerebral palsy at this time.
Researchers are currently studying how to cure cerebral palsy and other permanent brain disorders.
In the meantime, you can help your child by seeking treatment right away. Cerebral palsy treatment should begin as soon as symptoms are noticed. Early intervention from your child’s doctor can help prevent permanent movement issues and get your child the help they need as soon as possible.
Get Help Paying for Cerebral Palsy Treatment
Unfortunately, many cases of cerebral palsy are caused by medical negligence. Doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals who make mistakes during childbirth can cause major birth injuries such as cerebral palsy.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the average lifetime cost to care for a child with cerebral palsy is around $1 million. Parents and caregivers should not have to pay for a child’s cerebral palsy treatment if their condition was preventable.
Thankfully, there are options for your family to access financial compensation for your child’s injury. Filing a cerebral palsy lawsuit can help you get the money and justice you deserve.
To see if you qualify to take legal action, get a free case review today.
