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?
Cerebral Palsy is caused by abnormal brain development or damage to the developing brain that affects the ability to control muscles. It can occur when there is neurological damage before, during, or within five years of birth.
Common causes of brain injuries that lead to CP:
- 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
Additional risk factors for developing CP:
- Abnormal delivery
- Maternal diabetes
- Maternal Preeclampsia
- Poor maternal health
- Premature birth coupled with complications
- Low birth weight
- Severe jaundice
However, not every case of CP has a diagnosable explanation. There is no known cure for cerebral palsy, but there are many treatments that can help those affected live a full life with the disorder.
Types of Cerebral Palsy
There are 4 types of cerebral palsy. Depending on which areas of the brain are affected one or more of the following movement disorders can present in cerebral palsy patients.
- What causes Cerebral Palsy?
The most common type of cerebral palsy, spastic cerebral palsy affects approximately 80% of people that have the disorder. This causes an increase in muscular tone that results in stiffened muscles and causes awkward movements.
- Spastic diplegia/diparesis
- Spastic hemiplegia/hemiparesis
- Spastic quadriplegia/quadriparesis
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.
This type of CP causes only one side of the body to be affected and usually, the arm is more affected than the leg.
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.
- 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
Those who have dyskinetic cerebral palsy have problems controlling movement in their hands, arms, feet, and legs. They have difficulty sitting and walking, due to uncontrollable movements that may be slow and writhing or rapid and jerky. People who have this type of CP may also have their face and tongue affected and have difficulty talking and swallowing. Their muscle tone can change at a moment’s notice from too tight to too loose.
Also includes:
- Athetoid palsy
- Choreoathetoid palsy
- Dystonic palsy
- Ataxic Cerebral Palsy
Those who suffer from ataxic cerebral palsy have balance and coordination problems. Ranging from unsteadiness while walking to trouble with quick movements or movements that need a lot of control. The hands and arms are particularly hard to control when reaching for something.
- Mixed Cerebral Palsy
Some patients may experience symptoms or more than one type of cerebral palsy. Though, the most common form of mixed cerebral palsy is spastic-dyskinetic.
What are the early warning signs of Cerebral Palsy?
There are normally early signs of cerebral palsy, but they can vary greatly due to the many types and different severity of symptoms.
The main early warning sign that a child could have cerebral palsy are delays in reaching motor or movement milestones as an infant.
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
Or they may also refer patients to a specialist for observational analysis and further testing.
Please see a licensed doctor in order to properly diagnose children or be diagnosed with cerebral palsy. MMJ Health has professional and knowledgeable Medical Marijuana Specialists that can create a treatment plan that works for your lifestyle.
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.
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Marshall Morgan
2019-05-05
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