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Long Term Effects of Cerebral Palsy

The multiple effects of cerebral palsy are related to the body and motor control. Pain, seizures, lack of sleep and other struggles affect the daily lives of cerebral palsy patients. While this may not be a progressive condition, over time, a palsy patient's body will make adjustments according to the effects of the condition and results from lack of motor control.

  1. Cerebral Palsy

    • Cerebral palsy is a condition rather than an acquired disease. It is directly related to the brain's inability to properly communicate motor control instructions to the body's muscles and nerves. This is usually the result of brain damage during birth or early childhood. There are several types of cerebral palsy that affect the degree of control a patient has over specific muscle groups. A normal muscle contracts as another relaxes; in spastic cerebral palsy, patients usually have pairs of muscles that relax or contract at the same time.

    Sleep

    • Lack of sleep from constant muscle spasms and pain can result in drowsiness and fatigue for palsy sufferers. Over time, the body can take on irregular sleeping patterns, causing insomnia and lack of focus during the day. Through pain management, medication and muscle development, a more stable sleeping pattern may be reached.

    Fine Motor Control

    • For some cerebral palsy patients, muscle development and control will increase, largely depending upon the body's ability to learn and the amount of physical therapy a patient receives. Children with poor grip control in the early years may learn how to hold pencils and cups without problems by their teens.

    Pain

    • If cerebral palsy patients are highly spastic, constant muscle tightening can affect other body parts. Spastic leg muscles may lead to hip and joint pain in later years if the body does not learn to better control the movements. A proper physical therapy routine and pain management techniques can alleviate this pain or reduce its chances in the future.

    Seizures

    • Seizures, which are likened to the brain "freezing" for a brief period and ceasing to function in certain areas, can be regular occurrences for cerebral palsy patients. Patients are at risk for continuous brain damage if experiencing seizures regularly.

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