Paralysis Resource Guide - (Page 16) CONDITIONS Drugs may ease spasticity or reduce abnormal movement. Injection of the drug directly into spastic muscles is more helpful than oral drugs. In some cases, a small pump is implanted under the skin to continuously deliver the anti-spasm drug baclofen. Some success has been reported using botox to selectively quiet muscles. For younger children with spasticity affecting both legs, dorsal rhizotomy may permanently reduce spasticity and improve the ability to sit, stand and walk. In this procedure, doctors cut some of the nerve fibers that contribute most to spasticity. As a child with cerebral palsy grows older, therapy and other support services will change. Physical therapy is supplemented by vocational training, recreation and leisure programs and special education, when necessary. Counseling for emotional and psychological issues is critical during adolescence. Sources United Cerebral Palsy, March of Dimes, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke CEREBRAL PALSY RESOURCES United Cerebral Palsy (UCP), a partner with the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation Paralysis Resource Center, offers resources on CP health and wellness, plus lifestyle, education and advocacy resources. A national organization of more than 100 affiliates in most states, UCP advances full inclusion of people with disabilities, through the principles of independence, inclusion and self-determination; two-thirds of people served by UCP have disabilities other than cerebral palsy. UCP National, 1660 L Street, NW, Suite 700, Washington, D.C. 20036; telephone 202–776–0406; or visit the Internet site http://www.ucp.org The March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation features resources and connections to address four major problems that threaten the health of America’s babies: birth defects, infant mortality, low birth weight and lack of prenatal care. March of Dimes, 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY 10605; toll-free 1–888–663–4637; on the Internet site http://www.modimes.org 16 http://www.ucp.org http://www.modimes.org
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