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

A wake Up

 

Further to my post What is in a cup of coffee any way I wrote about what I thought about coffee and what was my favourite type.

And although I did mention some of the benefits that coffee I did not mention all of them. I was contacted by #GerardPaul from #ManyEats in which he mentions many more. So in conjunction, I would like to add his amazing article Health Effects of Coffee which has more information. Although opposing to my own views on points. I would be foolish not to recommend reading it. So although this is a short post, I wanted to add more information. And since my previous post was a year ago on my original blog and rather than just edit my post I thought I would write a completely new post. 

Love and Peace

xxx

How To Take the Headache Out of Life Changes

 So this is a difficult time for everyone around the world as mentioned in introducing being trapped in the house and how are you coping during these strange times. 

We are all having to deal with these life changes because of COVID 19. You know what though, this is the time to make these small changes in your own lives. What changes do you think you need to do? Organising timekeeping, routine making, self-care, mentally and physically, just to name a few. Well, this is the perfect time to do these things. If you haven't started it doesn't matter.

Now is perfect to do what you haven't done but have meant to.

You may also want to pick a new skill. So stop procrastinating and do it! Life is too short to not do what you need for yourself. There are so many places online that can you get free information and lessons on whatever you want to learn to do or get better at. these places include youtube, books, or ebooks. Have you got a kindle? Here's a link to get one if you haven't already Kindle E-reader What about trying to help yourself with your mental health. My favourite books to do this are How to be nice to yourself, Happy, and You are Baddass.  For time keeping my favourite book is Time is Money.  At the moment I'm reading The makeup of a confident woman which is about doing your makeup in a limited time and how important it is to do it for your own self well being.

As I said this is a difficult time for things and there are lots of things that are actually changing socially. And some of these are challenging for us as being social but as a disabled person, I am in the house permanently until the lockdown was eased and I am preparing to move home so getting ready to do so. I have mentioned this in one of the biggest stresses.

 So I completely understand where everyone is going coming from. Love and Peace 

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

The Craziness

 There is a lot of changes in the world. None so much, as what is going on here at home. The future is brighter than it has been in a long time.

I realise that there has been dullness in my blog. Talk of time management and blocking because of Covid19 and the changes. But none of the talks of makeup and other things, that I am passionate about. However, the lack of freedom and other things made me morbid and unwilling to write about anything exciting. There are lots of things that are positive, happening now, making it a happier future. I am excited about it. I am excited about the future despite aspects of uncertainty. Knowing that I am in some sort of control even if there are bits that I can't, it doesn't matter. I am feeling a lot better and things are arriving in my mind that I can write about. I have been writing my blog in my home for twenty-three years. Things have been almost the same over the last five years. With the change of home, the transformation will be here too. There has already been a small change that has happened. I cannot wait for you all to see it come to fruition in the next seasonal quarter.

Since writing this on my original provider things are definitely changing although the move I think is going to take a while longer. As we can't find a place that can take our cat. Who helps me keep calm when I feel anxious or depressed. So right now we are looking for somewhere.

Love & Peace

xxx