What is intractable spasticity?
Spasticity is a condition in which certain muscles are continuously contracted, resulting in stiffness that can interfere with normal movement, speech and the ability to walk. It is usually caused by damage to the portion of the brain or spinal cord that controls voluntary movement.
What are the symptoms of spasticity?
Spasticity symptoms include continuous muscle stiffness, spasms and involuntary contractions, which can be painful. A person with spasticity may find it difficult to walk or perform certain tasks. Spasticity in children can result in growth problems, painful and deformed joints and disability.
What are the symptoms of spastic paralysis?
The main symptoms of pure hereditary spastic paraplegia are:
- a gradual weakness in the legs.
- increased muscle tone and stiffness (spasticity)
- problems peeing – such as an urgent need to pee, even when the bladder is not full.
- a lack of sensation in the feet (sometimes)
What does intractable pain mean?
When a health care practitioner certifies a patient for intractable pain, they are certifying the patient meets this definition, “pain whose cause cannot be removed and, according to generally accepted medical practice, the full range of pain management modalities appropriate for this patient has been used without …
How do you explain spasticity to a patient?
Spasticity is a condition in which muscles stiffen or tighten, preventing normal fluid movement. The muscles remain contracted and resist being stretched, thus affecting movement, speech and gait.
What does Quadriparesis mean?
Quadriparesis is a condition in which you have muscle weakness in all four of your limbs (both legs and both arms). Also called tetraparesis, this weakness and diminished mobility can be temporary or permanent.
What kind of doctor treats spasticity?
Physiatrists and rehabilitation specialists at the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation deliver specialized forms of treatment in order for you to regain function and control of your affected limb or limbs and reduce symptoms of spasticity.
What is an intractable condition?
Intractable essentially means difficult to treat or manage. This type of pain isn’t curable, so the focus of treatment is to reduce your discomfort. The condition is also known as intractable pain disease, or IP.
What does medically intractable mean?
Intractable: Unstoppable. For example, intractable diarrhea is diarrhea that can’t be stopped, even with medication, and intractable pain is pain that can’t be stopped, even with medication.
What is the best medication for spasticity?
Oral medications used to treat spasticity include:
- Baclofen (Lioresal®)
- Tizanidine (Zanaflex®)
- Dantrolene sodium (Dantrium®)
- Diazepam (Valium®)
- Clonazepam (Klonopin®)
- Gabapentin (Neurontin®)
How to decrease spasticity?
Treatment for spasticity may include medications such as baclofen (Lioresal), clonazepam (Klonopin), dantrolene (Dantrium), diazepam (Valium), or tizanidine (Zanaflex). Occupational and physical therapy programs, involving muscle stretching and range of motion exercises, and sometimes the use of braces, may help prevent tendon shortening.
Does marijuana relax muscles?
Inhalation of marijuana smoke relaxes the muscles within the body. Patients who experience frequent muscle tightness or twitching (spasticity) often have difficulty completing normal tasks associated with daily activities.
What causes muscle spasticity?
Spasticity is caused by an imbalance of the signals that are sent from the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) to the muscles in the body.
Is spasticity curable?
There is no cure for spasticity, but it can be managed with the appropriate treatment. Treatment options include physical and occupational therapy, medications, surgery, or a combination of these treatments.