I have Cerebal palsy and really have had a hard time putting on weight. People have told me that Cerebal Palsy causes people to stay pretty slim throughout their lives. Does anyone have any comments on that?:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

Do you need to put on weight? If not, then don't worry about it because that means more body mass for you to move around, which will be more difficult as you age. I've always been pretty slim, though I've gained 10-15 pounds in my 30s (always have used a walker). I saw a childhood friend at a reunion 2 years ago with CP (walker as a kid, wheelchair now), and he has gained a lot of weight, though he was a little chunky when we were kids. He's 38 like me. Another friend with CP, same age, is still a stick but all muscle (always has used a walker).

Though I've never had a weight problem, I watch my diet somewhat because I don't want to have extra weight to maneuver.

How old are you?

Yeah, it's common to be underweight...spasticity means that your muscles contract all the time, and muscle movement uses up A LOT of energy. So people with CP who are active generally use up most of the calories they get during the day.

Oh okay, all those things to make some sense. Another question I have for the board is though its not really on this topic that much. Does cerebal palsy have anything to do with speeding up your metabolism? This was just another rumor that I have heard many people tell me over the years.

I have Cerebal palsy and really have had a hard time putting on weight. People have told me that Cerebal Palsy causes people to stay pretty slim throughout their lives. Does anyone have any comments on that?:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:
i don't think that is always true. i agree with steffers about the spasticity using up lots more energy. but like everyone else, it also depends on your activity level and diet. if you have trouble swallowing/chewing and are on a blended diet, you are more likely to take in less calories. if you don't exercise or bear your own weight at all, you will put on weight more quickly. sometimes meds can cause weight gain, too;it did for me.

Oh no, Steffers! I just had the Baclofen pump put in 4 weeks ago, reducing a great deal of the spasticity. Does that mean I'll get fat as a pig now?! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/eek.gif

Oh no, Steffers! I just had the Baclofen pump put in 4 weeks ago, reducing a great deal of the spasticity. [/url]


I do not know much about methods of reducing spasticity, this Baclofen pump sounds like a something that I could see myself getting in the future. Can you tell me more about it?:p

I doubt it, as long as you stay active and don't overeat :). Because I figure, you still have some spasticity, which is still using up energy at least somewhat more than "usual"...

Don't quote me if you start getting fat, though :angel: (KIDDING!)

Okay, Steffers... I'll take your word for it! Really, I am pretty good at controlling how much I eat. Had lunch with friends yesterday at a taco restaurant and ate half of what I ordered. The other half is in my fridge for lunch today.

Mceestix, the Baclofen pump is about the size of a hockey puck and is under the skin between my left ribs and hip in the abdomen. There is a catheter that runs from the pump to the T5 region of my spinal cord. Baclofen is constantly released in micrograms (100 per day right now) to reduce spasticity in my legs and arms. It's working very well, though it's been four weeks and I'm still pretty weak. I began outpatient P.T. this week and have been exercising at home. I see my neurologist in a couple of hours to increase the pump flow (via computer), and will try to get her to release me to go back to work next week, at least part time for a week or two. Oh, the pump gets refilled in about 4 months via a syringe. The battery lasts 7-10 years, at which time the entire pump is replaced.

The posting rules here don't allow us to promote any website, so I can't tell you where to find info. (there is a website that tells you everything, but it is sponsored by the pump's manufacturer). Maybe you can ask your doctor about this, or a neurologist if you have one (I think my neurologist is the only doctor in Colorado that does this). The surgery itself is very basic, minimal risks, and was performed by a spine surgeon. I was in the hospital 2 nights and did get pretty sick from the pain meds.

I'm debating whether this surgery was good or not. The doc said to give it six months before I make that judgement. Every day I see small improvements, and my strength is about 90% of what it was before the surgery, though many things are just different. My wife has been a huge source of help and support.

Haha, well I'm not skinny I'm not fat but I definately have something there ;). I've been slightly overweight all my life.

My daughter will be 12 yrs old and just now weighs 50 lbs. She is a skinny little thing. But she is healthy and works hard daily. She eats good, but burns lots of calories with her spasticity and daily inhome intensive therapy. We try to supplement her with lots of extra calories with pediasure, and carnation instant breakfast in her milk and extra calories. That has helped her to gain at least 5 lbs in the last 8 mos.......Good luckkk.....I wouldn't worry to much if you are healthy.....?Like someone else said the extra weight will be harder for you......
Tracy

I have Cerebal palsy and really have had a hard time putting on weight. People have told me that Cerebal Palsy causes people to stay pretty slim throughout their lives. Does anyone have any comments on that?:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:
I have the opposite problem. I am about 60 lbs overweight now. I was thin up until my wedding in 94. I had my second child in 95 and now I am a blimp! With it has come back problems and increased spasticity. I have hemi CP and never used aids until last year when I started using a cane. Its hard to know what exercises are good to do and I have zero will power for food. :'(

Hi Jo-Lynn,

Since about again seven, I've been chubby. Now, well, I'm the fat girl. Growing up we had poor nutrtion (fatty and sugary foods were common, fruits and veggies were not) and now that I'm older, it's hard to break that. But over the last few years I have been forcing myself to eat healthy things and excersize.

At one point I'd dropped 35 lbs, but I gained some of that back living with my sister this past year.

Now, that I'm living in my own place I only buy "health" food. Whole grains, fresh veggies, fruits, fish, and chicken.

I also try to stay away from all processed/convinece food. One other thing I do, is I buy butter and real sugar. But the fact is, margarine (at least in the stick,) is worse for you than butter, because of the transfat and artificial sweeteners, still rot your teeth and turn into fat in the body (they're good only because they don't raise blood sugar.)

I also, keep a log of the food I do eat. (Sometimes I count the calories and measure but for the most part I guess.) I write down my breakfast, my lunch, my dinner and snacks. I have an online buddy that does the same thing too, so she keeps me inline.

I know it sounds strict and hard (than again, you are married with kids, so it probably will be hard.) but for me, it's not. Also, I don't worry if it's a special treat, and I eat something really bad (like, fast food, or cake and ice cream) as long as I keep that to a bare minimum it's ok.

For excersize, I stretch and I walk on a tredmill, I swim sometimes too. It's not a lot, but it's the best I can do.

Thanks for that Mal... I had heard that about butter vs marg but not sugar! Do you have probs with blood sugar? It runs in my family (diabetes) so I better be careful!

What type of CP do you have? I am hemi so swimming is hard for me. I cant tread water or swim laps and put my head above water to breathe. I swim like a fish when I am completely submersed... but that only works in shallow water so I can stand up to breathe. Do you have any swimming tips?

I'm a spastic/ataxic quad. I'm not a very good swimmer at all, but I can save my life (lol.) I can't swim underwater at all. One thing I am very proud of though, is that I can defy my own balance and gravity and stand on my head in the pool. I've been working on that for 15 years though. No other real tips though, I just do things my own way until they work... however that is.

Hello. I was born with Cerebral Palsy, and my mom told me while I was growing up I would never get past the 90 some pound mark because of my CP, and I didn't until I think I was maybe I was 24 or 25 years old when I noticed an increase in my weight. I'm now 26, 4'11" the last time my height was taken(it has been awhile), and now I weigh 112 pounds. I miss the way I used to look. I struggle with my body image now since gaining weight. Even though 112 pounds is nothing to complain about, but still I look at my body image in digust. I wish I could get back in the 90 some pound range, but I know that would be unhealthy for me because I am older. I at least would like to get to 100 pounds.