When to See A Doctor For Cerebral Palsy

If your child with cerebral palsy (CP):
Is having problems breathing.
Chokes during feeding and you are not able to dislodge the food.
Call a doctor right away if:
Your child has a seizure for the first time.
If you have a child diagnosed with CP, call your doctor if your child has:
A seizure (if it is the first time, call your doctor or seek care right away).
Constipation that isn't relieved by home treatment.
Skin irritation that isn't getting better, starts to bleed or weep fluid, or causes pain.
Feeding problems that aren't relieved by home treatment, such as:
A pattern of coughing and choking during feeding. If food is inhaled into the lungs, it increases the risk of pneumonia.
Trouble chewing, along withweight loss or complaints of being hungry.
Frequent accidents that threaten your child's safety.
Other signs of complications. These may include bladder control problems, bleeding gums, or an increase in joint stiffness.
If you have cerebral palsy and you are pregnant, talk with a doctor about how CP can affect your pregnancy and delivery.
Who to see
A team of health care providers will be involved in your child's care. Health professionals who can diagnose and treat people who have cerebral palsy include:
Pediatricians (some pediatricians specialize in developmental disabilities).
Family medicine doctors.
Nurse practitioners.
Physician assistants.
Internists.
Neurologists.
Neurological surgeons.

Physiatrists, physical medicine and rehabilitative physicians, and other doctors who specialize in therapeutic and long-term treatment issues.

Nutritional Needs of Cerebral Palsy Children

Nutritional Needs of Cerebral Palsy Children

While a proper diet is important for all children, it is especially important for those special needs children who suffer from cerebral palsy.

Food choices are important since it’s been shown that they can improve or worsen some of the physical symptoms associated with cerebral palsy. It’s important for parents to know which foods to include as a steady part of the diet and which ones to avoid in order to provide the child with the best possible nutrition.
Cerebral palsy is caused by abnormalities in the brain. These abnormalities cause a disruption in the child’s ability to control movements and posture. The child can exhibit symptoms that range in severity from mild requiring no kind of special assistance to ones so severe there is a need for lifelong care.
Some forms of cerebral palsy (CP) may have detrimental effects on the brain’s ability to move the face, mouth and head which can cause problems from the child when he or she attempts to chew and eat. Because the condition may affect the chewing function, the diet needs to include quality foods that are easy to eat or drink.

The Importance of Good Nutrition

Proper nourishment is of great concern for children who have cerebral palsy. As many as 35 percent of cerebral palsy children suffer from malnutrition according to the organization MyChild. This factor slows the growth process and makes it difficult for the child to gain weight.

For children with cerebral palsy, high calorie healthy foods are essential because it may be difficult for many to physically consume enough food to meet their nutritional requirements.

Two of the most common symptoms of cerebral palsy are constipation and acid reflux. This is the result of poor muscle tone, a condition that makes it difficult for the body to push stool through the colon and into the lower sphincter of the esophagus. This causes the contents of the stomach to wash into the esophagus which causes the condition known as acid reflux.
When preparing foods for a child with cerebral palsy, limit processed foods that have very little nutritional value as much as possible. Instead, place your focus on foods that are high in calories, are nutritious, and contain high qualify fats.

A great addition to the child’s daily diet is calorie-rich smoothies that contain fruits high in calories such as bananas, mangos and avocados, along with green leafy vegetables and powdered greens for the vitamin content.

It is also important to include healthy fats in order to increase both the nutrition and calorie count. This might include nut butters, coconut milk, and coconut oil; you can spread them on foods or add them to smoothies.
Leafy green vegetables such as spinach, collards, and kale are good in smoothies or added to many of the foods you prepare for your child. These leafy green vegetables add vitamins, minerals, fiber, and bulk, the latter of which are important to avoid constipation.


In order to add prebiotics and probiotics to the diet, you may wish to include cultured dairy products, sauerkraut, kimchi, and bananas. These components help build healthy bacteria and help with relief from constipation.

Drug Therapy for Cerebral Palsy

One of the major characteristics of cerebral palsy is spasticity, meaning that the muscles are stiff or rigid muscles. It also describes stiff, rigid muscles interfering with normal muscle activity, movement, walking or speaking. If muscles or tendons remain tense for too long, joints become bent in a fixed rigid position called a contracture.

Spasticity is caused by damage to the portion of the brain that controls voluntary movements. The motor area of the brain is found in the cerebral cortex. If this portion of the brain is damaged, it can affect how nerve impulses from the brain are carried along the spinal cord and through the nervous system to the muscles and tendons. These interrupted or abnormal messages can cause hyperactive deep tendon reflexes, causing knees to jerk, legs to scissor (open and close like a pair of scissors), and repetitive, or jerky motions.

Interrupted or irregular nerve impulses can also cause individuals with diseases like cerebral palsy, or with brain injuries, to hold their shoulders, arms or fingers in odd ways. Spasticity can be extremely debilitating and painful. It is also common in brain injured individuals. Common treatments for spasticity include physical therapy, medications and surgery.

Drugs are sometimes used to control spasticity, particularly following surgery. The three medications that are used most often are diazepam, which acts as a general relaxant of the brain and body; baclofen, which blocks signals sent from the spinal cord to contract the muscles; and dantrolene, which interferes with the process of muscle contraction. Given by mouth, these drugs can reduce spasticity for short periods, but their value for long-term control of spasticity has not been clearly demonstrated. They may also trigger significant side effects, such as drowsiness, and their long-term effects on the developing nervous system are largely unknown.

Patients with athetoid cerebral palsy may sometimes be given drugs that help reduce abnormal movements. Most often, the prescribed drug belongs to a group of chemicals called anti-cholinergics that work by reducing the activity of acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is a chemical messenger that helps some brain cells communicate and that triggers muscle contraction. Anticholinergic drugs include trihexyphenidyl, benztropine, and procyclidine hydrochloride.


Occasionally alcohol "washes" -- or injections of alcohol into a muscle � are used to reduce spasticity for a short period. This technique is most often used when physicians want to correct a developing contracture. Injecting alcohol into a muscle that is too short weakens the muscle for several weeks and gives time to work on lengthening the muscle through bracing, therapy, or casts. In some cases, if the contracture is detected early enough, this technique may avert the need for surgery.

Diet and Fruit For Cerebral Palsy Diet

The simple act of feeding can be really tough for a child with cerebral palsy, and is very likely a handful for you, too. In this article we discuss foods and nutrients you need to include in your little one’s diet, and show you how to prepare the meals so they’re easier to swallow.

Cerebral palsy severely affects the use and coordination of muscles, including those we require for eating and drinking. That’s why children with the condition often have a hard time chewing and swallowing their food. Add difficulties when using utensils, and it’s suddenly clear why feeding time represents an uphill battle for most kids with CP. As a consequence, many end up underweight and short of vital nutrients necessary for their physical growth, development and overall well-being.
To avoid malnourishment, it's of key importance your child gets an optimal daily amount of calories brimming with vitamins and minerals. In this piece we show you what types of foods are essential for your kid, as well as how to prepare them so they can be chewed and digested more easily:
Get the liquids in
If your child struggles with chewing and swallowing food, it’s a good idea to get the bulk of his or hers recommended daily calorie intake by introducing more liquid foods to the diet.
Similarly, it’s best to avoid anything that’s too sticky or textured. Skip out on foods such as toffee candy, peanut brittle, sinewy meats, and any others that might be tough and time-consuming to chew.
You'll find that blending a certain food often makes it much easier to process. Smoothies, creamy soups, porridges, puddings, and rich stews should be the foundation of your child's diet, as they are packed with the necessary nutrients and easy to swallow down.
Constipation is a common issue with those affected by cerebral palsy, so drinking enough water and other fluids like fresh-pressed fruit juices and herbal teas is extremely important. Staying properly hydrated is beneficial for better digestion and will help your kid maintain higher energy levels.
Fruit smoothies make the perfect breakfast
Healthy smoothies are a fun and easy way to get an ample amount of calories in your child's diet. They are also high in water and fiber, which will help with constipation and soothe other digestion problems.
Start the day off with a fruit smoothie breakfast, just make sure it's calorie-dense. We recommend sweet and starchy fruits like bananas and dates as a base, which you can then mix up with any other fruits or vegetables your kid likes best. The combinations are virtually endless and you can experiment until you find a few recipes that hit the sweet spot.
If you're always struggling to sneak in leafy greens in your kid's diet, spinach and kale are virtually impossible to taste if you blend them in a sweet fruit smoothie. A smart trick to boost the calorie count is to add a spoonful or two of a healthy fat source, such as coconut milk or any nut butter (it’s always better to go for the creamy instead of the crunchy version).
Practice chewing

It's good to rely on liquid foods in order to get the main share of calories in, but make sure your kid still develops his or hers masticatory reflex with smaller snacks in between meals. Try dried fruits like apricots or a piece of bread. If you think that’s too difficult for your child, CaringForCerebralPalsy suggests a smart technique: “allow them to chew on (but not swallo

Diet and Exercise for Cerebral Palsy

People with cerebral palsy is that they have trouble gaining weight. A good, nutritious way of gaining weight for those with cerebral palsy is adding key foods to their diet. The following list is made up of these kinds:
Corn oil or canola oil margarine on bread, vegetables, rice, pasta, hot cereals
Powdered skim milk added to regular whole milk

Wheat germ
Raisins
Puddings
Peanut butter
Custards
Eggs
Thick shakes
Cheese
Ice cream
There are also nutritional supplements available in drug stores that do not require a prescription; however, it is recommended that you consult your child’s pediatrician before purchasing any of these. There are also doctor prescribed supplements too. Remember that supplements are useful, but not as good as the real thing.
According to cerebralpalsy.org, the ketogenic diet is good, but better for children than adults. The diet includes many fats and limits carbs. It recommends 3 or 4 grams of fat for every gram of carbohydrates. You will be feeding the child high-fat dairy products, peanut butter and fatty meats. You will need to supplement this diet with calcium, vitamin D, iron and folic acid. Other diets are out there to try, but this one was what seemed more reasonable than some of the others.
Many methods are available if your child has trouble chewing. Your GP may be able to help you set up meetings with a dietician and a language therapist can help with the method of chewing itself. Dried apricots and fruit strips can also be helpful in between meals if your child has trouble chewing.
The child’s muscle tone is also an important factor in figuring out an appropriate diet. For example, if the child has high muscle tone, they will burn calories much faster than a child with low muscle tone. The goal in supplementing his diets is to add calories without adding bulk (roughage) or empty calories in the diet. Supplemental calories should come from protein, fats, and unrefined carbohydrates. For example, you can add nutrients and calories to your child’s diet with sprinklings of powdered milk, ground nuts, and cheese. There are also many infant formulas designed to give a high caloric, balanced diet, as well as supplements to increase calories. In addition, underweight children with cerebral palsy sometimes benefit from more frequent mini-meals rather than the usual three meals a day. Your child’s pediatrician, speech-language pathologist, and nutritionist can advise you on these and other ways of increasing or enhancing your child’s nutrition.”

Exercise is also very important for those with Cerebral Palsy. It can help increase heart and lung exercise as well as reduce risk for several chronic diseases, like osteopathy or high blood pressure. It is suggested that exercise be made part of the child’s daily routine. It is also said that it should be incorporated into things such as eating and dressing. Swimming can also be helpful since it may improve respiratory ability.

Medications And Drugs For Cerebral Palsy Treatment

Medicine for CP is meant to help patients control pain and reduce complications associated with the disorder. As with other forms of treatment, the type of medicine your child needs will depend on the severity of CP and the complications involved. The most common types of medication for CP include:

Muscle Relaxants: Muscle relaxants such as Valium and Baclofen promote muscle relaxation by reducing spasms and stiff muscles. Most muscles relaxants are given orally unless special surgery is needed to continuous administration.

Seizure Medication: Seizures are a common problem for many people who have CP. Anti-convulsant medication such as Trileptal and Lamictal helps control seizures.
Anticholinergic Medication: For people who suffer from dystonic CP, antocholinergic medication, such as Robinal, may be prescribed. These types of medications help those who drool often and have uncontrollable body movements.


It’s important to note that many doctors feel that giving muscle relaxant medication to growing children is harmful, specifically because the side effects may be more detrimental than the spasms and muscle stiffness. Some doctors, however, feel that the benefits that muscle relaxants give to children with CP outweigh the side effects. Your physician will be able to provide information to you and your child’s needs.

How To Cure Epilepsy Naturally

Epilepsy is traditionally treated with anti-seizure medications. But these medications don’t work for everyone, and they come with a risk of side effects.
From herbs and vitamins to biofeedback and acupuncture, there are a lot of choices available. But there is far less evidence backing up natural treatments for epilepsy compared with conventional medicine.
Some alternative therapies might complement your current treatment plan, but you should always ask a doctor first.
With an increasing market and public interest, herbal treatments have soared in popularity. It seems there is an herb for virtually every ailment. NYU Langone Medical Center estimates that 20 percent of people taking prescription drugs also use herbs.

Some of the most commonly used herbs for epilepsy are:
burning bush
groundsel
hydrocotyle
lily of the valley
mistletoe
mugwort
peony
scullcap
tree of heaven
valerian
Such herbs have the potential to reduce seizures, but there’s no scientific proof that they work. The FDA doesn’t regulate the safety and efficacy of supplements. Herbs sometimes cause unpleasant side effects such as headaches, rashes, and digestive problems.
While some herbs might help epilepsy, others should be avoided. These include:
gingko and St. John’s wort (may interact with anti-seizure medications)
kava, passionflower, and valerian (may increase sedation)
Acupuncture and chiropractic treatments are sometimes considered other alternatives to conventional medicine. The exact way acupuncture helps is not understood, but the ancient Chinese practice is used to help chronic pain and other medical issues. By placing fine needles in specific parts of the body, practitioners help the body heal itself.
Acupuncture may change brain activities to reduce seizures. While the practice sounds good in theory, there is no scientific evidence to prove acupuncture as an effective epilepsy treatment.
Spinal manipulations in chiropractic care may also help the body heal itself. Some chiropractors use specific manipulations to help patients control seizures on a regular basis. But like acupuncture, chiropractic care isn’t widely viewed as an effective form of epilepsy treatment.
garlic (can possibly increase medication levels)

chamomile (may prolong medication effects)