Cerebral Palsy: Causes, Signs, Symptoms and Treatment

Cerebral Palsy

Do you know the feeling of being restricted in your movements? Not having the mental power to even twitch? Of being reliant on others for something as simple as moving your hand? Cerebral palsy is a disease that is developed when a part of the brain called the cerebellum is damaged. Consequently, parts of the body experience paralysis. According to the “United Cerebral Palsy Centre”, it is estimated that 80, 000 persons have this agonizing disease in the US alone. Also, it is discovered that babies and young children who contracts cerebral palsy receive mental disabilities. Cerebral Palsy involves several signs and symptoms, which is recognized by several causes and can be treated efficiently.

Limitations in muscle movement, mental retardation, seizures, bladder and bowel control problems, skeletal deformations, and stiffness. These are just a few of what a person with cerebral palsy must go through. This horrifying disease literally succumb a person in a vegetable form, not allowing them to enjoy life to the fullest. Yet, they wouldn’t know the beauty of life in the first place.

The causes for Cerebral Palsy (CP) can vary. In most cases, persons contracted the disease since birth. While residing in the mother’s womb, the baby may experience brain defects while developing. Unfortunately, scientists are not entirely sure of what exactly is the cause of CP. However, they suspect that during the time of pregnancy, the fetus incidentally received a lack of oxygen which wasn’t enough for the brain; hence brain damage will occur. As a matter a fact, “at least 70-80% of cases of cerebral palsy begin before birth”, this heightens the assumptions made. But other causes may include that it is hereditary, an incident may occur in which the mother obtain an infection, a seizure disorder or a thyroid infection. Also, birth defects may contribute to the cause, especially around the spinal cord, brain, or nerves.

Regrettably, there is no cure for Cerebral Palsy. However, scientists are extensively working on treatments and improvements for those with this unfortunate disease. The treatments can help reduce the symptoms, but not fully do away with them. Each treatment is different for each person, meaning one treatment may not work for another. They are comprehensively supervised by a neuro-medical specialist, who helps to outline the procedure. Most treatments include physical therapy, speech therapy, medication and in some cases surgery.

Cerebral Palsy is nerve disorder that prevents persons to move, or speak on their own, dooming them to a lifestyle of paralysis. In some instances, it is painful to watch persons with CP. They are condemned to seizures, muscle stiffness and mental disabilities, averting their lives to those who can take care of them. There is no cure or definite cause as to what causes CP, but investigations are still going on to discover the underlining cause of this troublesome disease. However, treatments are developing to help the situation in any way it can.