Being healthy! While having cerebral palsy. Doesn't have to be a struggle!

Trying to be healthy with Cerebral Palsy

Trying to be healthy with this condition can be so hard at times and I have mentioned this in a couple of my posts, such as Exercises or no exercises, and 4 Amazing healthy eating ideas with a disability and since writing these posts originally so much has changed. I have learned a little bit more about the way that food is affected by the way a disabled person digests it. You may think we are the same and yes in many ways we are but we are different. One of the differences I never considered until recently is how we get the nutrients that we need to live.

The physical act of chewing

Every time anyone puts some food in their mouth there is the act of chewing the food. You may think this is the easiest way to get the nutrients that we need and yes it should be. However, it not always the case. Unfortunately, when a disabled person eats food it can be the case that we may not be able to chew the food sufficiently. This means that there are often bigger lumps going into the stomach. Consequently, the nutrients that we need are not got because the stomach is unable to get them.

Vitamin and Mineral Supplements

Another way that it is possible is to take multivitamin tablets to help your body get the stuff that it needs. 

Ok, so these are great if your want to boost things especially if you are feeling a bit poorly. These are also a great way of boosting everything if you are not able to eat everything. This might be because you are allergic to specific things. This might be fruits, nuts or something else. That's ok but also check that the supplements that you are taking don’t include something you are allergic to because that can cause problems.

Shakes and bars

These are great if you are monitoring what you are eating and drinking. But as I have mentioned in an earlier paragraph chewing or lack of chewing is part of the way of reason for not getting the correct amount of nutrients that you need. A shake might be a good way of boosting everything as you may not be able to chew enough. And that's ok.

Feeding tubes

Another way that is done for people who are unable to chew. For me, this is not something I know about but I do know that this is a way that it is happening at hospitals and homes. So if it is an option for you then you will need to research it. Making your own decisions in the end. 

My take on this

After discovering that because of my disability I have not been able to chew my food properly. I have made a conscious effort to chew more effectively as well as have supplements for anything that I am missing if along with the occasional shake to replace some of the stuff that I need. I have tried many different types of shakes and the one that I have found that works for me the best is Herbalife. I was introduced to it by the Paralympian David Smith. I will do an in-depth review of the shakes I was given in another post as well. as an interview with David Smith about everything, he is about.

What Now?

For me the choice is easy and it's to do a combination of everything because I am the only one leading my life and there are days when I forget to chew my food properly, so I will have a vitamin supplement. There are days where I won't be eating the right stuff so a supplement is needed. And when I don’t feel like eating so to speak yet I will need to have something so again a shake might be an ideal compromise.

Final thoughts

That is up to you and what you think is the best option for you. Because only you can live your own life. No one else can. My advice to you is to research everything you can. but make your own mind up to what you actually need to live your life to the fullest no matter what.

What is Spastic Cerebral Palsy

 Are you curious about why some people shake but don't have the condition Parkinson's? 

Do you see people sitting in a wheelchair every now and then shaking? And wonder why?🤔

Are you a parent of a child with either the occasional shake on their limbs or are they constantly shaking? Or do they have stiff movements?

I can give you some insight. As I have the condition as mentioned in Life with Diplegic Mixed Cerebral Palsy. But in this post, I am specifically talking about the Spastic type. 🦽

What are the symptoms of spastic cerebral palsy?

Primary symptoms of spastic cerebral palsy include muscle tightness, or increased tone, leading to stiff movements and difficulty executing precise motor control. When upper limbs are involved, flexion (Tightness)  is seen at the elbow, wrist and fingers.

There are various degrees of this. I'm fortunate to have a fairly mild case. It can be in any type of cerebral palsy such as diplegic, one limb or quadriplegic. It also can be combined with other types of cerebral palsy making it a mixed  This type of cerebral palsy is one of the most common forms of cerebral palsy but it does not mean that the person with it is not able to talk or whatever, it just means that their movements are laboured and jerky.  Depending on where it is it means that walking is harder or eating due to the movements in the arms. If the case is in the lower extremities, then it is very common to see the person in a wheelchair.

This does not mean that the person is unable to do anything at all. It means that things need a different way of thinking. The same needs to be done when the case is in the arms or as a quadriplegic. There are so many things that can be done to support the person with this type of cerebral palsy. 

I will show different options to aid the person with independence. To make the person as independent as possible. These will be gone into detail in other posts but the following is a list of what is generally known 

• Physical therapy 
• Behavioural Therapy
• Medication to control spasms/seizures
• Surgery

Physical therapy is the most important form because this means that the person having the best type of exercise for them. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to have it consistently. Many are only having blocks of 6 weeks of sessions then end up stagnating in their stiffness and often get worse.

Behavioural Therapy is the second most important form as this is the way the person learns how to do things so this is the most important form to start as early as possible in the persons' life as this teaches them how they can be as independent as possible. This includes getting dressed, feeding, cooking and everything else the average person takes for granted.

Medication is another thing that is given and many different types are to be suggested and advised by the doctors who are involved for the particular patient. And these are to aid against the constant spasms. As well as the pain that is in conjunction with the spasms. Which is sometimes connected with epilepsy and other seizure conditions.

Surgery is another option that is often used as a last resort because of the pain and positioning of limbs and smaller joints. Which means that the joints are fused. Therefore limiting movement further.

So each thing is to be done according to the patients' case as everyone is as individual as the person involved. Sometimes some options don't sound possible but actually are. The most common version of this is an injection of botox. Most people think of botox and the beauty side of the injections into the facial muscles making it impossible to frown at times. But the injection can actually relax the muscles making the movement easier to do.

These help the person live a more independent life to the fullest of their capabilities. Meaning that they have the same right as anyone else.

In my personal case, my joints can be held tightly with some differences to the average person.

As you see I hold one of my hands differently while drinking

It doesn't mean that I can't do things it just means that I do things differently and I don't let the condition get in my way. Because everyone is different and that is how we are meant to be.

Love and Peace

xxx

Moving on

 Right Now

I'm writing this because I haven't had much to say recently. I changed provider for the blog and life has got in the way.  Using some of the older posts and certainly cerebral palsy has played a lot in my life. And it will for the rest of it. 

Many people think that it is some kind of disease that is contagious. It is not possible to catch brain damage. I talk about it in Life with Diplegic Mixed Cerebral Palsy

Although my case is fairly mild there are so many different aspects of my life that it dictates long term decisions. Not just the short term ones.

For a long time, I have been trying to support myself and my family while doing things that others are doing.

This includes network marketing and multi-level marketing. While living in a place that we have outgrown as a family. I have personally been struggling to cope while living in it. So my health mentally and physically has suffered badly. I decided that I should go back to what I love which is blogging and writing.

What's Next. 

At the moment, we are in a sort of limbo, while we find somewhere that is more suitable for the whole family. And we can't wait for the actual move and start moving on to the future more positive than it has been. 

While We Wait

So while we house hunt I have learned a new hobby and loving it so far as well as learning how to use a new system for my blog. Which is a good thing as I want to educate people.

Have there been any changes? That has meant that you have had to make big changes to your life? 

I'd so love to hear what they are. 

Love and Peace 

Xxx

Ataxic Cerebral Palsy What is it?

 Ataxia is a word for a group of disorders that affect coordination, balance and speech. Any part of the body can be affected, but people with ataxia more often have difficulties with balance and walking. So they look like they are wobbling. As shown in the video

Ataxic cerebral palsy is a type of cerebral palsy that affects a person's balance, coordination, and depth perception. The definition of, Ataxia, means “incoordination” or being “without order.” This type of cerebral palsy is the least diagnosed type.

So there are lots of different styles of walking one of which is shown in the video above. The one I have is

That is not me walking but a video of someone else doing the same type of gaited walk. which is called Tip Toe/Equinus Gait.

However, there are ways to help this.

• Physical Therapy
• Occupational Therapy
• Speech and Language Therapy

Physical therapy is done in the same way as physiotherapy is done for spastic cerebral palsy but concentrates on what movement there is and changes the way of doing it.

Occupational therapy is done by using aids such as gait walkers and splints to change the way to do it.

When I was small the occupational therapy included plastering my feet into a different way. and the plastering was left on for 12 weeks at a time and was done 3 times. I was made to be walking like Charlie Chaplin.

And this actually worked very well. As I am still walking although I do use night foot splints to ensure that my feet don't turn in as they were as a child. Similar to the picture below.

My feet still turn in at night so I use a set of nighttime splints to ensure that they don't get too bad. But I am extremely lucky in the sense that I am aware of what my condition is and does it to me.

Speech and Language Therapy is used to help with speech and language as it is often difficult to understand. If it cannot be improved enough through the therapy then the person is given equipment such as the ones below.

which was made famous by the great Professor, Professor Stephen Hawking who had Motor Neurone Disease (ALS) and died in 2018.

This does not mean people with cerebral palsy are not the same as anyone else we just have added challenges that we have overcome to do what we want. I mentioned this in my post