hello everyone.......my 4yr old daughter was just diagnosed with cp....and i asked the dr.if physical therapy would benefit her...and he said that he could order it but he isn't because it wouldn't help her anyway. is this true......any comments or advise would be appreciated......

hello everyone.......my 4yr old daughter was just diagnosed with cp....and i asked the dr.if physical therapy would benefit her...and he said that he could order it but he isn't because it wouldn't help her anyway. is this true......any comments or advise would be appreciated......

Hmm. I think PT is always useful, but on the other hand you have to think of the cost/benefit ratio.
IMHO, your dr's opinion seems a bit strange (but I'm no medical professional). Maybe he just wanted to emphasize that CP can never be cured.
Because your daughter was diagnosed at such a late age, her disability is probably very mild. So PT probably wouldn't be crucial for her. On the other hand, I've heard that nowadays very mild cases of CP can be made invisible by PT.
BTW, what kind of CP does your daughter have? At least if she has spastic CP, then I think PT would be good for her.

Physical therapy, especially in a young growing child is very good for CP.
I am surprised that a doctor wouldn't think it necessary.
If anything it can help keep range of motion and it is very useful to prevent contractures for which surgery is then needed to fix the problem.

It is very very smart to get a good stretching regiment started now. Speaking from experience with CP myself and 38 years old. I wish I had started stretching much sooner. My CP is of a less severe nature and I have been through PT and have a stretching program that has shown benefit to me.

I hope this helps you.

Lastramy

Hi mommy 4,

If I'd have listened to all our doctors my son would have never made any progress. All I can say is try PT, give it a chance, you never know as kids are amazing!!

Take care

thanks you guys for your comments and oppinions...yes my daughter was diagnosed with cp later than others...but her regular pediatrician said she probably had for quite awhile and they never gave it much thought....they were only concentrating on her epilepsy.......they said her unsteadiness and her very poor muscle tone had nothing to do with her medication she takes....that is when i started doing research on the net....and coming to this board to find out more info....and when she got sick last month i took her to her pediatrician and i showed him how she walked and everything....plus she drools constantly ect...and he called her neuro and made them see her asap......that is when they diagnosed her with cp....and they are doing other tests for other brain disorders which i am very nervous about.but they won't have them results for a couple of weeks....they never told me which type of cp she has they just told me she has it....thanks again and i will let you all know more when i find out anything......you guys are awesome and you are all helping me alot.. :wave: :angel:

Yes, please keep us posted. Does she walk up on her toes? That was my big thing as a younger kid. The most common type of CP is spastic but you should learn more from your docs. Stay strong!

Take care,

Lastramy

Mommy,

I have found that my pediatrician is great with general illness but not very helpful when it comes to the out of the ordinary. My daughter is in the testing phase but has been receiving PT for serveral months for her legs. We are also going to start receiving OT for Sensory stimulation and fine motor skills. The PT and OT therapists have been a huge source of information. They see the unusual symptoms regularly. I would imagine your daughter would still qualify for Early Intervention a federally funded program available in each state. We pay a minimal monthly fee. Some states do not have a parent fee. With a diagnosis serveices are much easier to obtain. Try calling Easter Seals or any other local program. They pointed me in the right direction and told me how to explain it to my Dr. to get his support. Good luck!

i am 21 and have what the drs called mild cp. the pain got worse as i got older. its only on my right side though. i should of had therapy my whole life (that was what the shriners told me when i was 17!!!)but never got it casue they said the same thing that they did to you . i finally went last year for 2 mouths then they sent me home to do it myself... but anyhow please make the dr order therpy. it will help .it cant hurt

JAmes

My daughter seems to show improvement since having PT and OT. She is 2 and has spastic hemi cp on her right side. She has become more aware of her right hand and tries to use it... I've seen her use her left hand to put a crayon in her right hand and attempt to color with it. I think PT and Ot has taught my daughter how to compensate for her right-side weakness so I would definitly suggest those therapies, especially when it comes young children.

Sometimes when her right hand won't do what she wants it to do, she will fuss and hit it with her left hand... lol... she cracks me up. :D

take care,
Melissa

Physical Therapy has been a blessing to us (though my son is at the age where he gripes about it pretty much). His therapist is wonderful and has worked with him since he was two. She also has given us great advice over the years and helped us go to see the MDs better informed. Every patient is different, of course. But if I were you, I'd consult with a good pediatric physical therapist and see what she or he advises. And you may also find yourself working with an OT -- an occupational therapist. An OT works on fine motor skills and a PT on gross motor skills.
Good luck!

My daughter is two and has cp. Her physical therapist has hepled her alot. I personally think we could all use a little physical therapy ( as I slump at the computer) He may see that she did fine up untill now. But if she is lifting her heal or tightening her muscles (spastic) even if it causes her no problems now it might later in life if she's not shown how to use them properly, especially if she is having seizures

Hi Mommy 4,
If your daughter has poor muscle tone, she deffinately needs PT. Also, look into Early intervention Services through your county. She can get services through them. Also, if she drools, maybe speech therapy would also be helpful for her. They can work on her oral motor functions. I work at united cerebal palsy in NY. Every child we service recieves PT, Speech therapy and occupational therapy (for fine motor control - may even help with drooling).
kelly

Mommy4

My Son Is 4yrs Old Also. I Was Told At 5 Months That He Had Cp And Seizures And More Things Than I Can List. Any Therapy You Can Get Her Will Help Her In Some Way. Takoda Get's Pt,ot,and Speech Therapy. Sometimes You Can't Always Listen To The Doctors. If I Listened To Every Doctor My Son Wouldn't Even Be Here. You Are The Mom And You Tell Them What You Want. Your Child Is Comes First. So Don't Let Them Have All The Control Cause I Think They Knew From Day One That She Had Cp. My Son Has A Wheelchair But That Don't Stop Him From Doing And Going Where He Wants At Home And At Friends And Familys House. If It Wasn't For Therapy He Wouldn't Do Much Of Anything. So Get All The Therapy You Think She Needs.

You Will Be In My Thoughts. Toda's Mom

Physical therapy will definately help her. I couldn't walk unassisted until I was 8 years old. I know that it was because of the intense pt I received at a summer camp. Seeing that she will be entering school soon, if it's a public school you can request pt and it will be no cost to you. If this doctor says it won't help your daughter I would try to find a different doctor to help you start a therapy program for you. Good luck~

Becca