Is it possible to cure cerebral palsy completely? This is perhaps one of the most exciting questions that are asked not only by the owners of the mentioned diagnosis, but also by their closest and dearest people. The answer to it, as well as other information about the aforementioned disease, is presented below.
Basic information
Is cerebral palsy treated or not? A single answer to this question cannot be given by any specialist. What is the reason for this? The fact is that diseases, in which the brain acts as a lesion, in principle, cannot be completely cured. However, modern science knows cases where paralyzed people achieved incredible results that doctors did not even dream about. Therefore, when answering the question of whether it is possible to cure cerebral palsy, many experts are in no hurry to answer categorically.
What is cerebral palsy?
Before describing methods of treating cerebral palsy, it is necessary to tell what this disease is.
The term is used in medicine to refer to a combination of various chronic symptoms that have a non-progressive course and relate to disorders in the human motor sphere. Moreover, the latter arise due to damage to some structures of the central nervous system, formed exclusively in the prenatal period. Such disorders can affect the subcortical regions, cortical structures, the trunk and the capsule of the brain.
Features of the disease
Can cerebral palsy be cured ? Most often, this question is asked by the parents of sick babies. And this is not surprising. After all, such a disease requires enormous endurance from parents, strength and patience.
Experts say that with cerebral palsy in children, a variety of motor disorders can be observed. Muscle structures are most affected. In this regard, babies may experience:
- muscle tension and spastic contraction;
- various movements of an involuntary nature;
- limited mobility;
- gait disturbance.
The main symptoms of the disease
Is it possible to cure cerebral palsy in a child completely? This question will always be relevant. Indeed, in addition to impaired motor activity, such a diagnosis is often accompanied by pathologies of hearing, vision and speech activity. Also, very often this disease is combined with epilepsy, mental and mental development disorders. In addition, children with cerebral palsy have significant problems with perception and sensations.
In view of all the above violations, in infants with damage to the structures of the central nervous system are often observed:
- involuntary urination;
- problems with self-consumption of food;
- involuntary excretion of feces;
- the formation of pressure sores;
- difficulty breathing due to improper body position;
- problems with the perception of information reflected in training.
It's important to know!
Is cerebral palsy treated and can this disease progress? Many parents whose children have such a diagnosis are very worried that over time, their babies will become even worse. However, experts argue that cerebral palsy cannot progress, since damage to the structures of the brain is point and limited. In other words, they do not spread and do not capture new areas of nerve tissue.
Causes of the disease
Is cerebral palsy treated or not? In some cases, the treatment given gives a positive trend. However, this does not occur in all patients. Experts attribute this to the immediate causes leading to the development of the cerebral palsy clinic. By the way, the following pathological processes can be attributed to the latter:
- Chronic hypoxia during fetal development or during childbirth.
- Impaired development of certain structures of the brain.
- Intrauterine infections (for example, caused by the herpes virus).
- Injury to certain brain structures received during fetal development or during childbirth.
- Incompatibility of maternal and fetal blood with the development of hemolytic disease.
- Various infections involving the brain in infancy.
- Wrong childbirth.
- Toxic damage to some brain structures.
How is it diagnosed?
Is cerebral palsy treated in children? Before asking this question, it is necessary to find out whether the patient really has this problem.
According to doctors, the diagnosis of cerebral palsy does not cause particular difficulties, since the aforementioned disease has characteristic distinguishing features that are associated with non-progressive motor disorders.
Typically, the diagnosis of cerebral palsy is confirmed during a neurological examination and after an MRI of the brain. By the way, the latter can identify, as well as visualize atrophy of the subcortex, cerebral cortex and other disorders in white and gray matter.
Is cerebral palsy treated?
Despite the fact that it is difficult for modern medicine to give an unambiguous answer to this question, many parents whose children have such a diagnosis believe and always rely only on positive dynamics.
By the way, the only thing that can be said for sure about this issue is that the therapy of such a disease must be started immediately after the child is diagnosed accurately. And the sooner the correct treatment begins, the higher the chances of minimizing all the serious consequences of the disease.
In this aspect, not only quality therapy is of great importance, but also care for the disabled person, the creation of all conditions for him.
the main task
Speaking about whether cerebral palsy is treated (how and by what), one should not get stuck on the word “therapy”. After all, the main task with such a diagnosis is adaptation to life. This is especially true for those cases when it comes to the most severe degree of the disease.
Thus, if cerebral palsy is not completely treated, then this disease is precisely successfully compensated with a well-chosen rehabilitation program. And it is not for nothing that doctors say that the phrase “cannot be cured” is not synonymous with “cannot be helped”. If you act correctly and believe in your own strength, then sooner or later the result will be noticeable.
The main methods of therapy
Is it possible to cure cerebral palsy in a child? Unfortunately, it is impossible today to completely get rid of disturbances in brain structures without a true miracle. However, there are a number of methods that can definitely give a positive dynamic and significantly improve the quality of life of the patient.
In order for the therapy to be successful, it should be only comprehensive.
To date, the following methods of treating cerebral palsy exist:
- Medication.
- Orthopedic and operative.
- Psychological and psychiatric.
- Socio-pedagogical.
- Unconventional.
- Author's.
By combining or combining several methods, positive results will not take long.
Drug treatment for cerebral palsy
Is cerebral palsy treated in adults and children? The fundamental point in the treatment of such a disease is the use of certain medications.
With the development of cerebral palsy, the following categories of drugs can be used:
- In order to reduce spasticity, patients are shown agents that contribute to the relaxation of tense muscle tissue. As a rule, they are prescribed to all people with this diagnosis, since spasticity is characteristic of all forms of pathology ("Baclofen" or "Midokalm").
- With the development of convulsive syndrome, anticonvulsants are used (for example, Phenobarbital or Benzonal).
- In order to develop brain tissue, as well as the structure of connections between neurons and improve their work, such drugs as Somazina or Gammalon are prescribed. It is extremely important to remember that some of these medications are contraindicated in convulsive syndrome.
- After muscle tissue is relaxed, the patient is recommended to introduce drugs that contribute to the normalization of the impulse from nerves to muscle tissue. These drugs include Prozerin or Galantamine.
- In order to improve blood circulation in the brain, Cavinton and Trental are prescribed.
Orthopedic Methods
Is cerebral palsy treated with orthopedics? According to doctors, orthopedic methods of therapy must necessarily be included in the complex therapy of this disease. The essence of this method is the use of special devices that were made specifically for the patient. These include the following: tires, orthoses, staples, special shoes, etc.
Thanks to such simple but effective devices, it is possible to carry out the therapy of cerebral palsy even at home. By the way, such devices are very often used for spastic diplegia in order to improve the child’s gait and prevent the development of muscle contracture.
Assistive Technique
With the development of cerebral palsy, additional devices are often used that can significantly improve the condition of the child. These include strollers, which have a very different configuration. Also, with a similar diagnosis, verticalizers are very often used. This design is designed to help children with cerebral palsy stand without the help of outsiders. When choosing a model of such a device, you should take into account the characteristics of the disease, and also consult a doctor.
Surgical intervention
Is cerebral palsy treated surgically? Surgery is one of many ways to treat this disease. The main objective of surgical intervention is to give the child the opportunity to move around. If patients do not have such a prospect, then operations can reduce pain, ease skills during hygiene procedures, help sit down, etc.
As a rule, during surgery for cerebral palsy, doctors carry out the transfer or removal of tendons. The specialist is also able to correct scoliosis, change the wrong position of the limbs, correct the location of the hip joints, and remove the imbalance of spastic muscles.
Today, with cerebral palsy, methods of functional neurosurgery are actively used, namely:
- dorsal rhizotomy;
- the introduction of "Baclofen" into the spinal canal;
- epidural chronic electrical stimulation.
Psychological support
With cerebral palsy, the process of normalizing the patient's condition is a long one. In this regard, any attempts to somehow change the situation lead to uncomfortable sensations, which causes stress and negative emotions. Therefore, with paralysis, it is very important to provide psychological support to the patient. Doctors recommend using body-oriented methods aimed at sensory correction. This type of psychotherapy does not use words. With this correction method, only body language is used. Thanks to systemic and grouped movements, it is possible to achieve relaxation not only on the physical, but also on the psychological level.
Folk ways
Treatment of cerebral palsy with folk remedies is auxiliary. Before such therapy, you should always consult a doctor.
The most popular alternative medicine for cerebral palsy are the following:
- Infusion of red clover (increases vitality, copes with vitamin deficiency, restores strength after heavy loads).
- A decoction of wormwood and valerian root.
- Baths from a series of dioica nettles, bay leaves, sage, white mistletoe, tansy, birch buds, rosemary branches, juniper berries (removes spasticity).
- Tincture of a shepherd’s bag (facilitates the manifestation of cerebral palsy).
- Tincture of Japanese sophora (struggling with muscle spasm).
- Therapeutic baths with rose hips (help eliminate some manifestations of paralysis).
Socio-pedagogical method
The work of educators with patients diagnosed with cerebral palsy is extremely important. To achieve positive results, it must begin at an early age. In this case, the main work should be aimed at holding patients anatomically correct positions and mastering of various movements by them. Also, the teacher should pay great attention to the development of speech, stereotypes of behavior in society.
As a rule, children with cerebral palsy are taught in a playful way. At the same time, the movements of the small patient should be carefully observed by adults. Pathological and incorrect - stop, and necessary - encourage.
Author's way
Is cerebral palsy treated with PET therapy? It is impossible to give a definite answer to this question. However, it is possible to say for sure that such a method favorably affects the psycho-emotional state of people with the mentioned diagnosis, which means it improves their general condition.
PET therapy is a non-standard way of treating people with cerebral palsy, which uses such pets as dogs, horses, dolphins, rabbits, cats, birds, etc. In our country, this method is better known as animal therapy or zootherapy.
Summing up, it should be said that today it is not possible to completely recover from cerebral palsy. But this does not mean that with this diagnosis you need to let go of your hands and despair. On the contrary, in order to significantly improve the patient’s quality of life, it is necessary to exert maximum efforts and begin therapy immediately, as soon as the diagnosis is made.
According to experts, today there are no universal methods of treating cerebral palsy. However, the best results are given by methods such as:
- massage sessions;
- physiotherapy;
- drugs that relieve muscle tone.
The following techniques and methods also give a positive effect in the treatment of cerebral palsy:
- bobath therapy;
- Voight's method;
- load suits "Gravistat" and "Adele";
- logopedic techniques;
- pneumatic suit “Atlant”;
- auxiliary devices such as walkers, chairs, stand-ups, bicycles, exercise machines, etc.