Cerebral Spasticity

Cerebral Spasticity - General Information

Cerebral Spasticity – Symptoms

Like any other medical condition, Cerebral Spasticity triggers some unpleasant symptoms and signs that can luckily be dealt with, with the help of a proper treatment (that ought to be prescribed by a medical provider who has specialized in this area). This medical condition is characterized by signs such as: uncontrollable muscle spasms, trouble / difficulties in speech, difficult movements of various body parts (muscles) and so on. These are not all the symptoms that can be triggered by this medical condition. Unluckily, we cannot provide you with any further professional information regarding this matter. This is why, we strongly advise you to seek additional medical advice and / or information regarding the potential symptoms that could be experienced by a patient who suffers from Cerebral Spasticity. Your personal physician or a specialist from the nearest medical setting will be happy to provide you with the information that you seek, or will point you to another reliable source of information. Although this medical condition is a severe one, due to the progress that has been made in the medical industry during the past decades, new, effective treatment options have appeared, that are able to ease the suffering of those who have this medical condition. They can relieve this medical condition’s symptoms, aiding the patient in his or her attempt of living a normal life.

Cerebral Spasticity – Treatment

In June 19, 1996 a new medication was approved by the FDA (U. S. Food and Drug Administration) for the treatment of patients who are suffering from Cerebral Spasticity. The intrathecal Baclofen therapy can be prescribed to about two thirds of the entire number of patients who suffer from this medical disorder, especially to a patient whose condition worsens every day, thus interfering with the normal care and / or functioning. This therapy is considered an effective and safe option for patients whose medical condition stops them from doing even the most simple daily activities (actions that the majority of us take for granted) such as walking, talking, writing, dressing up or feeding by themselves (without additional help). This therapy is the first new treatment that has been approved in the last 15 years and that specifically addresses patients who suffer from the forms of Cerebral Spasticity.

A therapy with Baclofen is a reversible, non-destructive treatment, the perfect alternative to rhizotomy (an operation that severs the patient’s spinal nerves in order to allow the organism’s muscles to relax). Due to its unique combination of ingredients, a therapy with this medicine is able to effectively relieve the unpleasant symptoms that are caused by this medical condition, being very effective in easing the patient’s muscle stiffness. As the oral form of this medication is not appropriate for the treatment of this medical condition, patients who are suffering from Cerebral Spasticity must be injected this medication directly into their spinal fluid. Of course, this procedure is done by an authorized health care professional, in an authorized medical setting (it is very important to make sure that the physician has clear access to the needed medical devices, especially those that would enable him or her to deal with any severe complications that might result from this procedure). The improvement of the patient’s medical condition can be noticed within a few minutes. Furthermore, the patient needs not to repeat this medical procedure during the next one to three months.

Various clinical studies have shown that a therapy with intrathecal Baclofen is actually able to help patients who suffer from Cerebral Spasticity (both adults and children) as they reduce uncontrolled muscle spasms. Patients who have followed an intense therapy with this medication have experienced noticeable improvements to their initial medical condition: improved mental alertness, swallowing, speech and so on. This has also dramatically decreased the difficulties that medical assistants had to deal with while caring for such patients. In order to properly accommodate to the insertion of the pump, a patient must be at least 4 years old. Furthermore, the patient’s organism must be fully developed for his or her age. Although a therapy with this medicine is highly efficient and has radically improved patients’ lifestyles, it is not a cure for Cerebral Spasticity. In some rare cases, patients can develop some of the therapy’s side effects: sleepiness, nausea, muscle weakness, headache, and light headedness. However, you need not worry, as most of these adverse reactions disappear in time and can be easily dealt with, with minor dosage adjustments. All patients who want to follow a treatment with this medication or who are already using it ought to be aware of the fact that they are not allowed to stop their therapy with Baclofen without their physician’s approval. This could trigger severe reactions, known as withdrawal symptoms. Patients who have followed a long term therapy with this medication must receive smaller and smaller doses of it until they can finally end their therapy. Another medicine that is widely prescribed to patients who are suffering from this medical issue (Cerebral Spasticity) is Dantrolene. This medication is a very popular muscle relaxant, with a direct way of action. However, patients who are suffering from any type of known liver disorders are not allowed to use this medicine, as it could worsen their initial medical condition. Most of this medicine’s effects on excretion and metabolism are still unknown.