Cerebral Palsy Mobility Issues

Living with cerebral palsy can make getting around difficult. This health problem affects how people move and balance. It starts before or right after birth when the brain suffers damage.

A birth injury lawyer has seen firsthand the mobility issues of cerebral palsy and fought for justice for birth injury victims. If you want to connect with a cerebral palsy attorney near you, do not hesitate to reach out to the legal network of Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Alliance.

Below is some information about how cerebral palsy changes the way people move. We'll look at different kinds of cerebral palsy and what they do to the body, and we'll also talk about ways to help people with cerebral palsy move better.

What Is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy is a group of problems that affect movement. It happens when the brain gets hurt while it's growing. This can happen before a baby is born, during birth, or soon after. The hurt to the brain doesn't get worse over time, but it does change how a person's body works as they grow up.

Different kinds of cerebral palsy each affect movement in their own ways. Some people with cerebral palsy have a hard time walking, others cannot sit up on their own, and some have trouble using their hands for everyday activities.

Types of Cerebral Palsy

There are a few main types of cerebral palsy. Each one causes different movement problems.

Spastic Cerebral Palsy

This is the most common type. People with spastic cerebral palsy have very tight muscles. Their jerky and stiff movements make it hard to walk smoothly. People with this type might walk with their knees bent and their feet turned in. Some might need to use a walker or wheelchair to get around.

Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy

This type causes body parts to move when someone doesn't want them to. Someone with dyskinetic cerebral palsy might have arms or legs that move around independently.

Their muscle tone changes a lot, which sometimes makes their muscles very tight and other times very loose. This makes it hard to stand still or walk in a straight line.

Ataxic Cerebral Palsy

Ataxic cerebral palsy affects balance and coordination. People with this type often look shaky when they move. They might have to stand with their feet far apart to keep from falling over. Writing or picking up small items can be hard because their hands shake.

How Cerebral Palsy Affects Movement

Cerebral palsy can cause many different movement problems. These can make everyday activities challenging.

Balance Troubles

Many people with cerebral palsy have trouble keeping their balance, which can make it scary to walk without help. Some might need to hold onto things as they move around, while others might use canes or walkers. For some, even sitting up without falling over is hard.

Back Problems

Some people with cerebral palsy develop curved or hunched backs. This can happen because their muscles pull their spine as they grow. A curved back can make it painful to stand up straight or sit for a long time.

Muscle Problems

Cerebral palsy often causes problems with muscle tone, making some people's muscles tight and stiff. This can make it hard to bend arms or legs. Other people have the opposite problem - their loose and floppy muscles make it tough to control movements.

Coordination Difficulties

All of these problems together can make it hard to do things that require good coordination like dressing, writing, or eating. These everyday jobs take a lot of practice and sometimes special tools.

Pain

Many people with cerebral palsy deal with pain in their joints or muscles. Pain can make it hard to move.

Getting Help for Mobility Issues

People with cerebral palsy may move better with:

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is super important for people with cerebral palsy. A physical therapist can teach exercises to strengthen muscles and help people learn to move better. Physical therapists often use fun activities to help kids with cerebral palsy improve their movement skills.

Surgery 

In some cases, doctors might suggest surgery to help with movement. Some procedures can lengthen tight muscles or fix bones that don’t grow right. These surgeries can help reduce pain and make moving easier.

Medicine

Medications can help with some cerebral palsy symptoms. Some medicines can relax tight muscles. Others can help with pain. The right medication can make it easier to move around more comfortably.

Special Equipment

Many people with cerebral palsy use special equipment to help them move. This might be something simple like a cane or walker. Some people use wheelchairs to get around. There are also computers and other devices that can help people talk or control things in their home.

Why Medical Records Matter

When someone has cerebral palsy, they need to keep good medical records. These records show how the person's health has changed over time. They list all the treatments and medicines the person has tried.

Good medical records can help doctors give better care. They can also help if someone needs to prove a medical mistake at birth caused cerebral palsy.

When Cerebral Palsy is From a Preventable Birth Injury

Sometimes, cerebral palsy results from a mistake by doctors or nurses during pregnancy or birth. This is called medical negligence. If this happens, the child's family might obtain money to help pay for care. This is where a lawyer from the Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Alliance network can help.

How a Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Can Help

A lawyer who knows about birth injuries can look at what happened and see if someone made a mistake. They can help families understand their rights.

A lawyer can help the family get money to pay for:

Medical Bills

When a child has cerebral palsy, the medical bills can add up fast. There are many doctor visits, tests, and treatments to pay for. Some kids need to stay in the hospital for a long time. This can cost a lot of money. Even with insurance, families must often pay large portions of these bills.

Medical bills for cerebral palsy don't stop as a child gets older. They keep coming year after year. There might be new treatments to try or problems that pop up as the child grows. All of this means more bills to pay.

A lawyer can help families get money to cover these medical bills. They can fight to make sure the people who caused the cerebral palsy pay for the medical care. This can be a big help for families worried about paying for everything their child needs.

Physical Therapy

Physical therapy can help kids with cerebral palsy. It helps them learn to move better and get stronger. A physical therapist works with the child to improve things like walking, balance, and using their hands.

Many kids with cerebral palsy need physical therapy several times a week. Some might need it every day. This therapy often goes on for years. It can be tiring for the child and take up much time for the family.

Physical therapy can cost hundreds of dollars a year or more, and insurance doesn't always cover it. A lawyer can seek compensation to cover all the physical therapy a child needs. This way, the child can keep getting better without the family worrying about the cost.

Special Equipment

Kids with cerebral palsy often need special equipment to help them move around and do everyday activities. 

This might include:

• Wheelchairs or walkers to help with getting around
• Special chairs or standing frames to help with posture
• Braces or splints to support arms or legs
• Communication devices to help kids who have trouble talking

This equipment can cost a lot of money. You will need to replace it as the child grows bigger. Insurance might not cover all of it or might not pay for the best equipment.

A cerebral palsy lawyer can recover money to buy all the equipment a child needs. They can also fight for money to replace or upgrade equipment as the child ages and needs change.

Home Changes

Many families need to make changes to their homes to help a child with cerebral palsy.

This might mean:

• Adding ramps instead of stairs
• Making doorways wider for wheelchairs
• Putting in special bathtubs or showers
• Adding lifts to help move between floors

These changes can cost thousands of dollars. Most families don't have the money saved up to make them, and insurance usually doesn't pay for home changes.

A cerebral palsy attorney can help get money to pay for making a home work better for a child with cerebral palsy. This can significantly affect how easily the child can move around at home and how much help they need.

Lost Income

Taking care of a child with cerebral palsy takes a lot of time and energy. Sometimes, one or both parents must stop working or work less to care for their child. This means less money coming into the family right when they need it most.

Lost earnings can be a big problem for families. They have more bills to pay but less money to pay them with. This can make it hard to buy food, pay for the house, or get things the child needs.

A good lawyer will fight to get money for lost income. This can include money for work parents had to miss in the past and for work they might miss as they keep caring for their child. This help can make it easier for families to focus on their child without worrying about money.

Lawyers who help with these cases often work on a contingency fee, so the family doesn't have to pay the lawyer unless they win the case. Then, the lawyer gets paid from the money won in the case.

Getting Help Pays Off

A good lawyer can make a big difference for families dealing with cerebral palsy. A lawyer can help get money to pay for all the extra care a child with cerebral palsy needs. This can include physical therapy, special schooling, and mobility equipment.

A lawyer can also seek enough money to care for the child their whole life when necessary. Cerebral palsy doesn't go away, so care is needed for a long time. A good lawyer will fight to get enough money to cover all these future needs.

It's Wise to Call a Cerebral Palsy Lawyer as Soon as You Can

If you think a medical error caused your child's cerebral palsy, talk to a lawyer in the Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Alliance’s network. They can look at what happened and tell you if you have a case. Many lawyers will talk to you for free to start with.

Call a cerebral palsy lawyer as soon as you can. You face time limits for when you can ask for help. A lawyer can make sure you don't miss any important deadlines.

Remember, a lawyer can help you. They know how to deal with big medical companies and insurance people. They can take a lot of stress off your shoulders so you can focus on caring for your child.

In the end, getting help from a lawyer can mean getting the money you need to give your child the best care possible. That's why you need to reach out to a lawyer if you think someone's mistake caused your child's cerebral palsy.

Don't wait to get help. If your child has cerebral palsy and you think a mistake caused it, call us today. We can explain your rights and connect you with a lawyer who can fight for what your family deserves. Your child's future is worth it.