Living with spastic cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy is caused by brain damage that happens at birth or very early in childhood, which affects a person’s physical and mental development. Spastic cerebral palsy, the most common form of the condition, causes the muscles to contract or tighten involuntarily, causing intense muscle spasms, tightness and pain. “You can have a kiddo with cerebral palsy that is active and excels at sports but maybe has some spasticity just involving their right calf muscles and they use a brace when they’re out running around. But otherwise, they’re going to be a healthy adult when they get older,” said Jinfon Ong, M.D., pediatric neurologist at Pediatrix Child Neurology Consultants of Austin. Even those with severe forms can live a very satisfying life. “I think there is a tendency to devalue their experience because it doesn’t always follow the path of graduating from high school, going to college, getting married, getting a job, and having kids,” Dr. Ong says. “But there are many other ways to live a very fulfilling life.”

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