Cerebral Palsy Information | Surgery Can Help Some CP Sufferers

Surgery Can Help Some CP Sufferers

Anyone who deals with cerebral palsy knows about spasticity. This is one of the most distinctive parts of the disorder and one of the most frustrating, as well. The spasticity makes it hard to walk, hard to sit and sometimes causes episodes of very significant pain. A surgery being performed in St. Louis treats this disorder and, according to The Republic, families from around the world are coming to have this operation performed on their children.

The Procedure

The procedure for treating cerebral palsy spasticity in this case involves actually cutting some of the nerves in the spine. These nerves have influence on the affected muscles and, by cutting them, the patient usually improves a bit where mobility is concerned. According to the article, those patients who were formerly in wheelchairs can usually get by with walkers or crutches after the surgery. Patients who were formerly on walkers and crutches are sometimes able to walk normally following the procedure.

For people with cerebral palsy, increasing mobility means increasing their enjoyment of life and their independence. Unfortunately, medical procedures oftentimes come with outrageous price tags and this one is no exception. The procedure, called selective dorsal rhizotomy, carries a cost of approximately $40,000. For most people with cerebral palsy, this is far too much money for them to afford. It may, however, be possible with a great deal of saving or if the child is fortunate enough to come from an affluent family.

CP and Mobility

Cerebral palsy can have varying effects on mobility. Some people with the disorder have such severe muscle spasms that they cannot maintain their balance when walking at all. Others don't have symptoms that are quite so severe. Either way, it means that people with CP oftentimes need assistance with mobility, whether it's from expensive surgeries or expensive assistive devices, and this can sometimes be very hard to pay for.

Getting Help

When birth mistakes on the part of healthcare professionals end up causing cerebral palsy, there's no reason that the family should have to pay for the costs of treatment on their own. A cerebral palsy lawsuit may help the family raise the funds to pay for the most recent and innovative treatments or even for those treatments that are time-tested and that simply offer some relief from the major symptoms of the disorder. Treatments of either type can be surprisingly expensive for families.