No one can be sure of the long-term effects of Cerebral Palsy, which is one of the reasons I constantly journal about health and well-being issues around Cerebral Palsy, so that we are able to stay well, whilst living with the condition.
Obviously none of us know what our lives will be in 10, 15 or 20 years, but living with Cerebral Palsy and not knowing, apart from what we already know about the links between arthritis, Osteoporosis and Cerebral Palsy can be scary.
I am sure there are other conditions that have a life expectancy attached. The life expectancy of anyone with Cerebral Palsy depends on the severity of the condition. There are many components to a diagnosis. It would be unfair to quote facts and figures, because each case is different and other factors need to be taken into consideration independently.
Having done a little research on premature births and Cerebral Palsy combined. there are websites that highlight problems of premature births and Cerebral Palsy. Organs are more likely to age quicker and will have to work harder, than those who don’t have the condition and who aren't born prematurely.
Will that be a problem in the long term?
All we can do is hope that it won’t, but there are no concrete answers. There is still, however, ignorance out there because there is little, or no information on Cerebral Palsy, particularly for adults going through the ageing process.
I would like to see more research into adult Cerebral Palsy and the ageing process and Specialists who deal with adults who have the condition, but past 18 we're literally on our own.
I hope that in our lifetime those with Cerebral Palsy will see research into the condition, but I've been told by a Neurologist we won't.
You have a lot of support through the work you do on here. You are providing a valuable service of providing information which is useful with those people living with CP. No one can say what is going to happen 10 or 20 years down the road. Plus medical advances may come along during that time to help all of us living with CP.
Randy you are right, as I have mentioned in my blog no-one knows where we will be in 10, 15 or 20 years time, but considering there are too many people already living with the condition and babies are still being born with CP and there is no money going into research, our dream of finding out about what we will deal with as we age, is very slim. There are snippets on the internet, but nothing concrete.
My mother always told me to not worry about tomorrow, just focus on today. Well I haven't taken her advice well .I think about what will happen down the road while I age with this illness. But I'm learning that I should worry about today and doing the right things for my body now, may ward off the bad stuff later.
You're helping to get information out there for others and that's great. I don't have CP but I can relate to most of your posts. You're doing a great job!
Lisa, we may not have the same problems, but the emotional stuff we deal with behind our problems or issues, tie us in together. What I write will resonate with everyone, just different issues to deal with.
I don't just write about CP, but lots of other things too!
I don't have CP and don't really know what to say, but I'm finally on line from home on a nice new computer that a great friend was nice enough to send to us and just had to give some input.
My wife and I just found out today that her cancer treatments are working and her tumors are shrinking. Living one day at a time and just living in the moment means an awful lot to me today. Love you and hope you are well... Brian.
Brian. Your words mean the world to me. So pleased about Maria. Keep up the good work... you're in my thoughts right now.
From personal experience I know the hardships that come from premature birth, CP and organ failure. I was born 3 months early and was diagnosed with CP from birth. I know my CP is connected to that in some way.
Aging definitely makes CP more difficult. Even in these past few years I've noticed certain tasks getting harder. Although living with CP, giving up isn't a good option. I'm not willing to loose my freedoms with regard to mobility so you just keep fighting the battle.
I completely understand your sentiments LeAnna. We cannot give up. All we can do is move forward living with the condition. We have no choices.