5 Cerebral Palsy Case Lessons From The Pros
How to File a Cerebral Palsy Case
Cerebral palsy is a disorder that will last throughout life and requires medical care. Children with CP are typically seen by a pediatrician, as in addition to a physical specialist. The doctor will take a medical history, do a thorough physical exam and conduct tests like an MRI or CT scan.
A cerebral palsy lawyer can help families seek fair compensation for the lifetime needs of their child. Contact us today to arrange a no-cost consultation.
Diagnosis
Cerebral palsy is a permanent condition that affects movement, posture, balance and coordination. It is caused by abnormalities or damage to the brain's parts which regulate the movement of muscles. It usually develops prior to or shortly after birth.
Doctors are able to diagnose cerebral palsy based on a child's symptoms and medical history, physical examination and milestones, growth and results of diagnostic tests. They may refer an infant, toddler or child to specialists, like pediatric orthopedists, neurologists, and physiatrists. Tests of blood, urine and skin could also be requested.
Babies born with CP frequently have delays in the development of milestones and have stiff muscles and exaggerated reflexes, which are not seen in normal infants. Low Apgar scores can also indicate oxygen deprivation. It is difficult to identify the condition in infants who are still developing. A definitive diagnosis is typically made by the age of two. The the earlier a child's condition is diagnosed, the better treatment will be. Many families find it beneficial to look for support groups, organizations and counseling services for their children.
Signs and symptoms
The signs of cerebral palsy usually appear in the beginning of childhood. They are caused by damage to the part of brain that regulates the movement and posture. This damage is not reverseable and can affect the coordination of muscles and body movements.
Children with dyskinetic cerebral palsy have uncontrolled, jerky movements of the hands, feet and arms. They might also have a hard time reaching up, picking up objects and coloring with crayons. They may drool or have trouble keeping their balance.
Ataxic CP is the least well-known type that results in clumsy and disorganized movement. Hypotonic CP is defined by muscle tone that is low and a rag-doll like movement of the legs and arms.
Doctors typically diagnose children with CP during the first 2 years of life, unless the condition is mild, in which case they might make a diagnosis when the child is four or five years old. To lower the risk of developing CP, women should get vaccinated before pregnancy against illnesses that can cause fetal brain damage, like rubella and German measles. It is also important for mothers to have regular prenatal visits throughout the pregnancy. This can help avoid complications such as premature birth and low birth weight.
Treatment
Cerebral Palsy can be caused by anything that affects brain development, from infections during pregnancy, to complications during labor and delivery to head injuries. Cerebral Palsy is more frequent when babies are born before 32 weeks, or with low weight at birth. cerebral palsy attorney tennessee during pregnancy, rubella (German measles) and cytomegalovirus infections can cause inflammation that damages the developing nervous system.
Each individual's CP treatment plan differs for each patient. A pediatric specialist or physical and rehabilitation physician or neurologist should supervise medical care and develop treatment plans that focus on specific symptoms and needs.
Medicines to reduce muscle tightness (such as onabotulinumtoxinA or Botox) may be used to improve the function and reduce discomfort or other signs. In the case of severe cases of CP surgery can extend stiff, tightly contracted muscles or correct problems such as an abnormally curved spine.
Speech therapists can aid children to develop communication skills and help parents improve their child's abilities to communicate. Therapy for recreation involves children in activities that are fun to encourage social interaction, self-esteem and motor skill development.
Support
Getting the right support can make all the difference. Parents of children with cerebral palsy as well as their children can connect with an entire group of people who share similar experiences at a local gathering or on the internet. Many groups hold events to raise funds and raise awareness about the condition.
Teachers can help children with cerebral palsy during school. They can plan ahead for when students will miss class due to doctor visits or to take medication. They can also provide arrangements in the classroom, like allowing students to travel between classes, take tests or doctor visits.
Adults with CP can seek out advice from an occupational therapist on independence, which includes housing, getting a job and benefits. They can also speak to their doctor to find out whether their medications are effective, and if anything could cause their symptoms to worsen.
The Cerebral Palsy Research and Clinical Center of Michigan maintains a database of specialists in the local area in this condition. It is available to residents in Michigan and permits users to search using their insurance company.
Legal Issues
Your cerebral palsy lawyer will assist you in negotiating an appropriate settlement with medical professionals responsible for your child's injuries. The legal procedure involves gathering additional evidence to prove that the medical facilities and doctors involved in your child's birth injury committed acts of malpractice, causing brain injuries and resulted in cerebral palsy.
A legal claim seeks compensation for the harms your family has endured and expected future costs. It's about making adjustments and implementing additional policies to stop these kinds of injuries from happening in the future.
Some parents are concerned that filing a medical malpractice suit can make them appear greedy or that they don't appreciate their child for what they are. The cost of caring for a CP patient can run into the millions.
Get a medical malpractice lawyer on your side as soon as you can. The sooner you file your case the better. Every state has its own statute of limitations. A lawyer can provide you with the laws that apply to your region, and also what you need to do following.