How MMJ Health can help Cerebral Palsy Patients
What is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a group of disorders that affect a person’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture in different parts of the body. It is the most common motor disability among children and many have co-existing conditions. Depending on how the condition is managed, motor skills can improve or decline over time. Doctors classify cerebral palsy according to the type of movement disorder involved.
What causes Cerebral Palsy?
- Bacterial and viral infections (Meningitis, etc.)
- Hemorrhaging
- A lack of oxygen to the brain before, during, or after birth (Asphyxia)
- Prenatal exposure to drugs and alcohol
- Mercury poisoning from fish
- Toxoplasmosis from raw, undercooked meat
- Head injuries sustained during birth up to five years of age
- Severe jaundice
- Abnormal delivery
- Maternal diabetes
- Maternal Preeclampsia
- Poor maternal health
- Premature birth coupled with complications
- Low birth weight
- Severe jaundice
Types of Cerebral Palsy
- What causes Cerebral Palsy?
- Spastic diplegia/diparesis
- Spastic hemiplegia/hemiparesis
- Spastic quadriplegia/quadriparesis
- Spastic diplegia/diparesis Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. It occurs when the cartilage wears away and bone rubs against bone, causing pain swelling, and stiffness.
- Spastic hemiplegia/hemiparesis This type of CP causes only one side of the body to be affected and usually, the arm is more affected than the leg.
- Spastic quadriplegia/quadriparesis This is the most severe type of spastic CP because it affects all four limbs, the trunk, and the face of the person with CP. Usually, those with this type of CP cannot walk and are seen to have other developmental disabilities, seizures, and hearing, vision, and speech problems.
- Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy
- Athetoid palsy
- Choreoathetoid palsy
- Dystonic palsy
- Ataxic Cerebral Palsy
- Mixed Cerebral Palsy
What are the early warning signs of Cerebral Palsy?
Signs of Cerebral Palsy:
- Problems with movement on one side of the body
- Seizures
- Developmental delays
- Incontinence
- Involuntary movements, tremors
- Contractures (shortening of muscles)
- Drooling
- Floppy or stiff muscles
- Dysarthria (difficulty with speech)
- Problems swallowing or sucking
- Jerky reflexes
- Gastrointestinal problems
If you suffer from cerebral palsy or notice any of these symptoms, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor.
Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy
Symptoms of CP can vary from person to person. A severe case of cerebral palsy may cause some to have to use special equipment to be able to walk or may lose the ability to walk altogether. Whereas, a mild case of cerebral palsy might present as an awkward gait and not require any special assistance. Cerebral palsy does not get worse with time, though the symptoms may change over the course of a person’s life.
While all patients with CP will have problems with movement and posture, symptoms and related conditions can also include:
- Intellectual disability
- Stiff muscles
- Epilepsy
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Chronic Pain
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Dysphagia
- Poor balance and coordinatio
- Seizures
- Vision, hearing, and speech problems
- Changes in the spine
- Scoliosis
- Joint problems
- Post-impairment syndrome
- Premature aging
- Anxiety
- Depression
Diagnosing Cerebral Palsy
Usually, cerebral palsy is diagnosed between 18 months and 5 years of age. Parents are the first to notice developmental delays that could indicate CP. But everyone develops at their own pace, so it may take time to get a concrete diagnosis of cerebral palsy as doctors often hesitate to make it until further observation.
Doctors may use different imaging technology to confirm and properly diagnose cerebral palsy like:
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Computed Tomography (CT)
- Electroencephalogram (EEG)
- Cranial Ultrasound
What can a Florida Medical Marijuana clinic do for Cerebral Palsy?
Research regarding the use of medical cannabis as a treatment for cerebral palsy symptoms is limited, but findings may suggest that it can offer benefits for pain management, reduction of spastic movements, tremors and seizures, and possibly much more.
In a 2011 pain treatment study, patients diagnosed with CP tested different types of treatment to manage their symptoms. According to the paper, the treatment rated highest in relieving pain was medical marijuana. In addition, the few studies completed on the use of medical marijuana for spastic quadriplegia show promising indications that it may offer numerous benefits including helping control the spastic movements those with cerebral palsy struggle with.
Under Amendment 2, cerebral palsy may be a qualifying condition for a medical marijuana card in Florida.
If you are currently suffering from cerebral palsy and would like to talk to our certified Florida Marijuana doctors, you can book an appointment and come to any of our 10 convenient MMJ Health locations.