What to expect with this common birth injury
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a neurological disorder that affects movement, muscle tone, and posture. It is caused by damage to the developing brain, usually before birth. It’s the most common motor disability in childhood, and its symptoms can vary widely. Some children may experience mild issues with motor skills, while others may have more severe impairments.
Parents of children born with cerebral palsy often wonder, "Will symptoms get worse over time?"
The different types of cerebral palsy – which include spastic, dyskinetic, and ataxic – are nonprogressive disorders. That means the damage to the brain that caused cerebral palsy won’t get worse. However, symptoms can change as people grow older, and in some cases, functional impairment can get worse.
What are the signs of worsening symptoms?
A child with mild CP may have difficulty walking, a challenge that persists throughout life but can improve with treatment. The disorder does not cause further loss of motor skills. If there is a progressive loss of motor abilities, it is likely due to other conditions, such as genetic disorders or nervous system issues.
Signs of worsening impairment and secondary complications include:
- Increasing chronic pain and fatigue
- Progressive muscle stiffness and spasms
- Sudden or progressive weakness
- Bone fractures during physical therapy sessions
- Symptoms of anxiety and depression
- Development of other health conditions, such as diabetes or hypertension.
What can make cerebral palsy worse?
A 2013 study suggests that certain secondary factors can affect functional impairments in adults with cerebral palsy. These include reduced physical activity, obesity, and premature muscle loss (sarcopenia). Physical training and nutritional interventions could help ease these effects. Some studies suggest adults with cerebral palsy often receive insufficient medical and rehabilitative care, which contributes to worsening conditions.
What expenses are involved in caring for someone with cerebral palsy?
Managing cerebral palsy involves various expenses, including medical costs for ongoing care such as physical and occupational therapy, specialized equipment such as wheelchairs and orthotic devices, and potential surgeries. Additional costs may arise from modifications needed in the home for accessibility. Educational and developmental support expenses are also common, as are costs associated with managing secondary conditions that might develop.
A cerebral palsy attorney can help you recover compensation
If your child was born with cerebral palsy because of medical negligence that led to brain damage, you deserve financial compensation. For example, a doctor may have failed to take a woman’s pre-existing medical conditions into account during pregnancy or birth. Medical issues involving the fetus and other risk factors may have been ignored.
However, recovering compensation can be complicated. Medical professionals deny doing anything wrong. Insurance companies and their attorneys will fight your claim.
That’s why you need an experienced cerebral palsy attorney. At The Lancione Law Firm, we have years of experience handling these complex cases in Rocky River, Cleveland, and surrounding areas. We’ve recovered over $350 million in settlements and verdicts for medical negligence victims. That includes one of the largest medical malpractice verdicts in Ohio.
Learn more about how we can help. Contact us and schedule a free consultation with medical malpractice attorney John A. Lancione.