Marianjoy Spasticity Clinic
Can the Marianjoy Spasticity Clinic Help You?
Have you been diagnosed with spasticity? Have you or a loved one experienced the following symptoms of spasticity associated with a medical condition that creates any of the following complications?
Tight, stiff muscles especially in the arms and legs – making movements difficult
Muscle spasms – sudden, involuntary muscle contractions
Fatigue
Mild to severe pain
Difficulty walking, eating, dressing, bathing, or sleeping
Weight loss
Safety issues/Risk for falls
If you have experienced one ore more of these symptoms the Marianjoy Spasticity Clinic may be able to help.
What is Spasticity?
Spasticity is tight, stiff muscles that make movement difficult or uncontrollable. Spasticity is associated with cerebral palsy, brain injury, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis and stroke. Spasticity can be painful and debilitating making the most ordinary tasks difficult.
At the Marianjoy Spasticity Clinic, our tradition of medical excellence and compassion enables us to understand not just the physical condition, but also how to deal with the social and psychological aspects of spasticity.
Knowing about spasticity and the treatment options that are available is an important part of providing care for yourself, your child or family member. For example, individuals with spasticity tend to tire more quickly. This is because it takes more energy to move spastic muscles than it does to move normal ones. Providing information like this empowers patients and their families with the knowledge and skills to help them make better informed decisions regarding the management of spasticity.
The first step in the collaborative physician-patient effort to treat spasticity is to determine the treatment option that will best enhance the life of the patient. Because not every treatment method is suitable for every person, we provide a thorough physical assessment that considers muscular movements and measures the effectiveness of current treatments and considers alternative treatment options.
Marianjoy Spasticity Clinic Evaluation
The Marianjoy Spasticity Clinic evaluation considers offers the following treatment options.
Traditional Therapy
Muscle stretching, positioning and movement exercises are basic components of a spasticity management program.
Oral Medications
Oral medications may be prescribed as the sole reliever of spasticity, or they can be used in conjunction with other treatments.
Botulinum Toxin Therapy
Botulinum toxin is a natural substance that is injected directly into spastic muscle tissue. Its use can be complemented by splinting and orthotic management to enhance the stretching effect. Botulinum toxin acts as an inhibitor of muscle spasms and is widely accepted for use in treating localized spasticity.
Intrathecal Baclofen Therapy
Intrathecal baclofen therapy is an effective method for controlling severe spasticity. This therapy consists of surgically placing a small pump that delivers medication directly to the spinal fluid via a catheter. This pump delivers a specific dosage of baclofen injection that may decrease muscle spasticity. The dosage amount is determined by your Spasticity Clinic physicians and is monitored closely to determine the most effective level for each patient.
Candidates for the therapy first undergo a screening test to assess their response to the therapy. During the trial, a small amount of anti-spasmodic drug is injected directly into the spinal fluid, and the patient is monitored closely for drug response.
Comprehensive evaluations are performed by our physical and occupational therapists during this test. In addition to Marianjoy’s experts in physical medicine and rehabilitation, we also provide valuable access to community services that can help make our patients’ lives more complete.
Effectively Managing Spasticity
The essential components necessary to effectively manage spasticity and to enhance function, comfort, and ease of care include the following:
1. A comprehensive evaluation by a board certified physical medicine and rehabilitation physician.
2. Identification and development of realistic, patient centered goals addressing physical, spiritual and emotional needs.
3. Implementation of the best treatment options available encompassing a patient centered, multidisciplinary team approach.
4. Ongoing team reassessments focused on continuous progress towards attainment and maintenance of realistic, patient centered goals.
5. Provision of valuable access to community services and resources.
To Schedule an Appointment
Patients must have a written prescription from a physician requesting a consult for spasticity. Prescriptions can be brought to the first appointment or faxed to 630-909-7151. To schedule an appointment for an evaluation of your spasticity and possible treatment and management options, please call 630-909-7002.
