Treatments for Cerebral Palsy
The term cerebral palsy covers a group of chronic neurological disorders that affect a child’s muscle control. Although there is currently no cure for cerebral palsy, a number of treatments are available to alleviate some of the symptoms and improve a child’s quality of life. To increase the effectiveness of these therapies, a team of healthcare professionals usually comes together to create an individualized treatment plan for the patient.
The most common cerebral palsy treatments involve the use of mechanical devices, physical and occupational therapy, medication, and surgery. Specifically, these treatments include:
· Braces, a walker, or a wheelchair for support and mobility
· Exercise to avoid deterioration of muscles from lack of use
· Physical therapy to improve motor skills
· Occupational therapy to assist in learning basic life skills
· Speech therapy to improve swallowing and speaking ability
· Orthopedic surgery to increase the range of motion from severe joint contractures
· Baclofen infusions to reduce muscle tension and eliminate spasms, particularly in the spine, by altering chemical processes in the central nervous system
· Anticholinergic drugs to inhibit acetylcholine (a brain chemical that triggers muscle contraction) and control abnormal movements
· Botox injected into spastic muscles to temporarily allow the muscles to stretch
· Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy increases the amount of oxygen in the cerebrospinal fluid to the oxygen-starved tissues in the brain thereby reducing muscle spasticity
The Costs of Cerebral Palsy
The financial burden associated with treating cerebral palsy can be devastating. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated that the average cost of treating cerebral palsy for a lifetime is just under $1 million.
Most families can’t absorb that kind of financial burden—and they shouldn’t have to if their suffering and their child’s brain damage was caused by the actions or inactions of a medical practitioner. If you suspect medical malpractice is at the root of your child’s condition, you may be eligible to receive compensation to cover the costs associated with care.
Legal Help
At Perey Law Group, PLLC we are committed to helping you receive compensation for the suffering and losses you have endured as a result of medical malpractice. Contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced medical malpractice lawyer who can evaluate your case to determine if your child’s cerebral palsy could have been prevented. If we find that medical malpractice was a contributory factor, we will help you devise a course of action to recover compensation and ensure your legal rights are protected.
Please fill out the form below to contact one of our experienced attorneys.
Perey Law Group, PLLC
1606 8th Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98109
Phone: (206) 443-7600
Fax: (206) 443-4785