Exploring Cerebral Palsy: Awareness, treatment options, and medical cannabis

What is cerebral palsy?

Cerebral Palsy is the name for a group of lifelong neurological conditions that affect movement and coordination, such as balance and posture. Many people with cerebral palsy also have other related vision, hearing, communication and mobility needs.

How common is Cerebral Palsy?

According to the disability charity Scope, Cerebral Palsy affects about 1 in every 400 children in the UK. From a global perspective, the Cerebral Palsy Alliance Research Foundation (CPARF) estimates that about 18 million people worldwide are living with the condition. It is thought to be the most common lifelong physical disability.

What causes Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy is usually caused by a problem or injury to the brain that develops before, during, or soon after birth. 

According to the NHS, the exact cause is often difficult to pinpoint, but some examples of issues which could result in cerebral palsy include:

• bleeding in the baby's brain or reduced blood and oxygen supply to their brain
• an infection caught during pregnancy
• the brain temporarily not getting enough oxygen (asphyxiation) during a difficult birth
• Meningitis
• a serious head injury

Types of Cerebral Palsy

There are three main types of Cerebral Palsy.

Spastic Cerebral Palsy

This is the most common form of Cerebral Palsy. It reduces a person's range of movement and can be very painful with muscles often going into spasm.

Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy

Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy causes uncontrolled, involuntary muscle contractions. The person may find it difficult to control the tongue, vocal cords and breathing and to maintain an upright position. 

Ataxic Cerebral Palsy

Ataxia is defined as an inability to activate the correct pattern of muscles during movement, which can affect balance and spatial awareness.

Mixed Cerebral Palsy

Many people have a combination of some or all types, this is known as Mixed Cerebral Palsy.

How does Cerebral Palsy affect a person?

The effects and severity of cerebral palsy varies significantly from person to person. Some people only have minor problems, such as weakness in one hand, while others may be severely disabled. 

Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy

Signs of cerebral palsy in babies are not always evident straight after birth, but usually become noticeable from a relatively early age. 

Symptoms can include:

• delays reaching development milestones
• seeming too stiff or too floppy
• weak arms or legs
• fidgety, jerky or clumsy movements
• random, uncontrolled movements
• walking on tiptoes
• a range of other problems – such as swallowing problems, speaking problems, vision problems and learning disabilities

Cerebral Palsy symptoms in adults

Cerebral palsy is not a progressive condition, and life expectancy varies between 30-70 years, often depending on the severity. Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy in adults may look similar to those in children and include:

• Movement and coordination issues
• Spasticity
• Tremors
• Trouble with walking and gait
• Difficulties with fine motor skills, such as buttoning clothes or picking up utensils 
• Pain
• Urinary incontinence
• Seizures
• Problems with speech, hearing, and vision

What are the treatment options for cerebral palsy?

There is no cure for Cerebral Palsy, so treatments are focused on improving quality of life and supporting the person to live as independently as possible.

Common treatments include: physiotherapy for movement and strength; speech therapy for communication and swallowing difficulties; and occupational therapy helps patients to find the most effective ways of carrying out everyday tasks based on their abilities.

Pharmaceutical medications are also often prescribed to help manage things like muscle stiffness, pain and discomfort, sleeping difficulties, seizures and gastrointestinal issues. 

Some patients may have surgery to treat movement or growth problems.

Medical cannabis and cerebral palsy

For those who have found conventional treatments ineffective at managing their symptoms, medical cannabis could be another option. Cannabis derived medicines can be prescribed in the UK by specialist doctors like those that work for Releaf to help with some of the symptoms which people with cerebral palsy experience. This includes pain, muscle spasticity, sleeping issues and epileptic seizures. 

What does the research say about cannabis and cerebral palsy?

While there is a lack of research specifically on medical cannabis in cerebral palsy, there is a growing body of evidence suggesting that it may offer potential benefits for managing some of the associated symptoms. 

Research also suggests that despite the lack of randomised control trials, cannabinoids are being used to treat these symptoms; the most common use was for epilepsy (69%), followed by spasticity (64%) and pain (63%).

One study found that the ‘anti-spasticity, anti-inflammatory, and anti-seizure properties of cannabinoids might be beneficial for patients with cerebral palsy’, although more research is necessary to understand how effective they are. 

More broadly, cannabis has been shown to be effective in helping to reduce muscle spasticity, reduce seizure frequency and severity, tackle sleep issues, and may improve quality of life in patients with chronic pain. 

What do the experts say?

We spoke Dr Michal Modestowicz to find out more. Dr Modestowicz is one of Releaf’s Consultant Neurologists, who has over a decade of experience in treating patients with neurological conditions, including cerebral palsy. Dr Modestowicz explained: 

“Muscle spasms, pain, seizures, behavioural difficulties, and sleep disturbances are just a few of the symptoms that individuals with cerebral palsy encounter - sometimes on a daily basis. 

Without effective treatment and management, these symptoms can be exhausting, and often have a profoundly negative impact on overall quality of life. But, as healthcare providers, it’s our responsibility to find an effective solution for each individual. 

For some patients with cerebral palsy, medical cannabis may be a beneficial addition to their treatment plan, yet many remain unaware of its availability here in the UK. 

At Releaf, we’re here to provide the information and support needed to help patients and their families explore these alternative options, and empower them to make informed decisions about their health, and their cerebral palsy care plan."

How can I access medical cannabis in the UK?

If you or a loved one has cerebral palsy and may benefit from treatment with medical cannabis, it’s important to do so under the guidance of a medical professional. 

You can use the Releaf eligibility checker to determine if it's right for you. A team of expert clinicians will then review your application and if appropriate you will be invited to schedule an appointment with a specialist consultant.

You can find out more about medical cannabis via the FAQs page or by contacting a member of the team.