I decided to write this article from my own perspective as a person living with cerebral palsy. I am writing to mothers and fathers of children with cerebral palsy and for those who are suffering. I say pain, but I believe it’s better said “living with” the disorder. First, I’d like to give the readers a little bit of my background so you know where I’m coming from.
Background
I am a 25-year-old male with cerebral palsy. I was diagnosed shortly before 3 by a doctor who told me that my cerebral palsy was so severe that I would never walk . By the time I was 5, I got my first walker medicine and Kindergarten. I was placed in a special education school with many other children with many different disabilities and quickly learned what a “different” life was like. During the time in second grade, I realized that I was mentally capable of “normal” maintenance. I moved the kids to regular schools so quickly and only had minor accommodations for my walker.
To make a short story, that is 20 years later and after two less successful surgeries, you have a lot of physical therapy in your hands years and it has happened a lot, I walk on my own, at home and other small places with help, When I go to school and my husband, I use my walker, but it is nothing like when I was a child.
The fact that I was intelligent enough allowed me to help dozens of students with disabilities. You have helped a mute girl learn to sign, dyslexic kids learn to read, kids with learning math everything. The sad fact is, doctors and special education teachers do not always understand everything that a person with a disability goes through. It is my hope that this article will give readers some insight into the treatment of cerebral palsy.
Disorder Not Disease
This is an important part. Cerebral palsy is a disorder, not a disease, or an illness, or any other derogatory term that likes to throw around. Doctors I’ve talked to, including mine and theirs, as well as reputable medical sites like Mayo Clinic define cerebral palsy as a disorder, to call it what it is. I simply suggest the word “disorder”: “Some parts of you can’t function properly for whatever reason.” Using terms like “affliction” and “disease” doesn’t help a person. those with cerebral palsy, or other people, to understand.
What is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy is a disorder of the brain, caused either by brain injury or abnormal development. Usually before birth. Premature babies are affected as are babies brought to term.
According to my doctors and others, the official cause of my cerebral palsy was cerebral hypoxia, a lack of oxygen to some part of the body, in this case, the brain. At the time, this was one of the most common causes of cerebral palsy. Hypoxia may affect the child shortly before, during or after birth and may remain hidden until specifically tested. so it was with me.
Signs
The symptoms of cerebral palsy are difficult to accurately list because of their varied nature. They can be as minor as slight limps in walking and as severe as complete immobilization, completely rigid muscles, and even seizures.
In general, cerebral palsy affects a person’s ability to move and walk normally. In addition to stiff muscles or difficulty moving, they may suffer from weakness or fine motor skills activity. muscle spasms and other emotional disturbances are common.
Since cerebral palsy is a disorder of the brain, it can also be a progressive effect. The most common thing I noticed is ADHD. Many children and even adults have been diagnosed with this in addition to cerebral palsy. Less common symptoms such as dyslexia and mental retardation, a retardation of mental development, have also been seen.
Progress
Cerebral palsy is not a progressive disorder. Not worse. That’s why I didn’t want to use the name “disease”. As long as no further brain damage has occurred, whatever condition you or your child remains relatively stable.
Since cerebral palsy is not progressive, it can get better through therapy and rehabilitation. I could not walk without walking for many years, until my mother began to work with me and take care of me. So that today, despite the fact that I have almost no leg, I can walk. I have seen countless children over the years become more mobile and even able to live full lives because of proper care and rehabilitation.
There is no “cure” for the disorder, but there are many ways to make it better and more tolerable, and there are many organizations that can help parents and people who need help dealing with the disorder. UCP United States of Cerebral Palsy or UCP is one of the main organizations in helping children and parents with the difficulties of cerebral palsy and they have branches all over the States of the United States. There are also state and local agencies that can help with rehabilitation, transportation and even housing for individuals with cerebral palsy. Be sure to check with your local health department about how to reach these agencies.
Treatment
Treatment varies according to the symptoms of each person and there are so many combinations of symptoms that it is difficult to list a standard. In many cases that I have seen, it usually involves a long period of physical therapy. Usually, focus on areas where everyone is weakest. For me, my ability to eat and walk will increase when I have a toddler. Sometimes it is possible to build muscle strength or reduce muscle stiffness so that a person can move. . Be that as it may, it is important to start early in the morning and continue as long as possible.
In one case, I saw a child who came out with his arms completely drawn from the inside, so that he could use a spoon and drink from a straw.
In the clause
The main thing I want readers to take away from this article is to stay aware and positive. Get your child tested early and start updating as soon as possible. If you are already living with cerebral palsy, there is always a way to do better, help and live your life to the fullest. Often even doctors and nurses all feel the same way, believing that one disability is no different than any other. What is not so is that there are as many different variations of cerebral palsy as there are people in the world. Never let someone tell you that you can’t do something.
I will include a link to my user profile with this article. Please leave me comments, concerns, and suggestions. I hope to continue the theme of dealing with failures in future articles
