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Spasticity
Facts | Symptoms | Causes | Treatment options
Facts
Spasticity
is a condition in which certain muscles are continuously contracted. This
contraction causes stiffness or tightness of the muscles and can interfere
with movement, speech and manner of walking.
Symptoms
Symptoms
may include increased muscle tone, rapid muscle contractions, exaggerated
tendon reflexes, muscle spasms, involuntary crossing of the legs and fixed
joints. The degree of spasticity varies from mild muscle stiffness to severe,
painful, uncontrollable muscle spasms. Spasticity can interfere with rehabilitation
in patients with certain disorders and often interferes with daily activities.
Causes
Spasticity
is usually caused by damage to the portion of the brain or spinal cord that
controls voluntary movement. It may occur in association with spinal cord
injury, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, damage to the brain because of
lack of oxygen, brain trauma, severe head injury and metabolic diseases such
as Lou Gehrig's disease.
Treatment
Treatment
for spasticity may include medication or physical therapy regimens that involve
muscle stretching and range of motion exercises to help prevent shrinkage
or shortening of muscles and to reduce the severity of symptoms. Surgery may
be recommended for tendon release or to sever the nerve-muscle pathway.
Intrathecal
pain delivery
Intrathecal 
drug delivery is a pain management method intended for those suffering from
back pain. It is only recommended when nonsurgical treatments have failed.
A thin, flexible tube (catheter) that is connected to a pump delivers small
but effective amounts of pain medication to the intrathecal space surrounding
in the spinal cord.
The
pump is surgically placed into the abdomen. One end of the catheter is inserted
into a pump and the other end into the targeted treatment area.
Because
this procedure is invasive, complications may include infections, bleeding,
pain and discomfort around the implant site, and blood (known as "hematoma")
or fluid (known as "seroma") in the pocket where the pump is implanted.
It is important that you discuss the potential risks, complications, and
benefits of intrathecal drug delivery with your doctor prior to receiving
treatment, and that you rely on your physician's judgment. Only your doctor
can determine whether you are a suitable candidate for this treatment.
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