What Is Cerebral Palsy Case And How To Use It

How to File a Cerebral Palsy Case

Cerebral palsy is a long-lasting condition that requires medical treatment. Children with CP are often seen by a pediatrician as along with a physical medicine specialist. Their doctors will take the medical history, take an extensive physical exam, and conduct tests such as an MRI or CT scan.

A oak grove cerebral palsy lawsuit palsy lawyer can help families obtain fair compensation for the lifetime needs of their child. Contact us now to schedule an appointment for a free case evaluation.

Diagnosis

Cerebral palsy is a disorder that affects the capacity to move, balance, and coordinate. It results from damaged or abnormalities in the areas of the brain that control muscle movement. It typically occurs prior to or shortly after birth.

Doctors can determine if a child is suffering of lenoir city cerebral palsy law firm palsy by looking at a child's symptoms such as medical history, physical examination, and observing growth and milestones, and taking a look at the results of diagnostic tests. They can refer the toddler, infant or child to specialists such as an orthopedist for children, neurologists and physiatrists. Testing of urine, blood and skin might also be ordered.

Babies born with CP frequently have delays in developmental milestones and have stiff muscles and overexaggerated reflexes that are not present in normal babies. Low Apgar scores may also indicate oxygen deprivation. It can be difficult to determine the condition in infants who are still developing. A final diagnosis is usually made by the age of two. The sooner a child's illness is diagnosed, the better the treatment will be. Many families are able to find support groups, associations and counseling services for their children.

Symptoms

The symptoms of cerebral palsy usually manifest in early childhood, and are caused by damage done to the part of brain that controls the movement and posture. This damage is not reverseable, and it affects the body's movements and muscle coordination.

Children with dyskinetic cerebral paralysis have uncontrolled, jerky movements in their hands, feet and arms. They may also have trouble reaching for objects, picking them up and coloring with crayons. They might drool, have trouble keeping their balance, and walk on tiptoe.

Ataxic CP is the least common type, which results in clumsy and disorganized movement. Those with hypotonic CP have a lower muscle tone and their arms and legs are able to move easily and mimic the movements of a Rag doll.

Doctors often diagnose a child with CP in the first two years of life, unless the condition is mild or in which case they may make a diagnosis when the child is four or five years old. To reduce the risk of developing CP women should be immunized prior to pregnancy against diseases that could cause brain damage to the fetus such as rubella and German measles. It is also essential that mothers receive regular prenatal check-ups during the pregnancy to help prevent complications like premature birth and low birth weight.

Treatment

Cerebral Palsy can result by anything that hinders the development of the brain, such as infections in the mother during pregnancy, complications during labor and birth or head injuries. Babies born before 32 weeks or who have low birth weight are at increased likelihood of developing cerebral palsy. Maternal febrile illness during pregnancy, rubella (German measles), cytomegalovirus or herpes infections can trigger inflammation that can damage the developing nervous system.

Each individual's CP treatment plan is different. A pediatric specialist, physical and rehabilitation doctor 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) can be used to improve function and reduce discomfort or other symptoms. Surgery can be used to lengthen muscles that are stiff and contracted, or to correct spinal problems, such as an abnormally bent back, especially in severe cases of CP.

Speech therapists can aid children develop their communication skills and help parents improve their child's abilities to communicate. Recreational therapy helps children participate in activities that encourage social interaction, self-esteem and motor development.

Support

The appropriate support can make a enormous difference. Families who have cerebral palsy and their children can connect with groups of people who share similar experiences at a local meeting or via the internet. Many groups also host fundraisers that raise awareness and funds for the disorder.

Teachers can help children with cerebral palsy in school. They can arrange for students who will miss class because of doctor's visits or taking medication. They can also provide accommodation in the classroom for things like allowing additional time to travel between classes or for taking tests.

Adults with CP might seek out advice from an occupational therapist for independence, such as housing, finding a job, and claiming benefits. They can also talk to their doctor to find out whether their medications are working and what could be making their symptoms worse.

The Cerebral Palsy Research and Clinical Center of Michigan maintains a database of local specialists with this condition. The database is available to people in Michigan and lets them search by insurance company.

Legal Issues

Your cerebral palsy attorney will assist you in negotiating an acceptable settlement from the medical professionals who are accountable for your child's injuries. The legal process involves gathering more evidence to show that the physicians and medical facilities involved in your child's birth injury committed acts of malpractice, causing brain injuries and resulted in cerebral palsy.

A legal claim seeks monetary compensation for the damages your family has suffered as well as anticipated future expenses. It's also about bringing about changes and additional policies to prevent these injuries from happening to children of other children in the future.

Some parents fear that filing a medical malpractice lawsuit will make them appear smug or that they don't appreciate their child for who they are. The cost of caring for a CP patient could be in the millions.

It's important to consult with a medical malpractice attorney as soon as you can. Each state has its own statute of limitations, and the sooner you start your case, the more effective. A lawyer can help you understand the laws that apply to your specific area, as well as what you should do next.