Helping my daughter with CP be more comfortable

LollyB

Hi my daughter is 26 with cerebral palsy which effects all four limbs she’s non verbal as well so it’s very difficult to know what’s wrong she was on baclofen but this has been changed to Tizanidine she seems to sleep during the day but of a night she goes off to sleep ok but is then continuely waking through the night she doesn’t seem comfortable in her wheelchair either she keeps pushing herself forward and has been getting terrible anxiety for the couple of years to the point where she’s losing weight. Hoping someone can help me with some suggestions Many thanks in advance 

steve51

Hi @LollyB

Welcome it is great to meet you today ? ? ? ? ?

I am very very sorry to hear about your current situation. 

Sorry for more questions but how was things with the "Baclofen" 

Was the "Baclofen" used for her limbs???? 

Why was it changed to the "Tizanidine"

I spent over 10yrs in a Rehab Centre where Baclofen was used daily on a number of patients. 

Please please let me know if you need any further help??? 

LollyB

Hi 
it was changed because she was on the highest dose of baclofen but it wasn’t really doing anything so they changed it but her posture and spasticity still hasn’t improved so I’m wondering now if there’s something else that’s making her anxious 

I’ve ordered some magnesium spray I’m going to try that so fingers crossed 

steve51

Hi @LollyB

Many thanks for your info - is there anything else that they can offer you instead???

Sorry but when I worked within the rehab unit Baclofen was the preferred treatment option!!!!!!

Please please let me know if there is anything that I can help you with anything???? 

LollyB

They said that there are quite a few different ones but to be honest I really don’t want to keep giving her different drugs although I’m not entirely sure that the Tizanidine is the one for her either I think it’s the anxiety that needs treating 

Ami2301

Hi @LollyB welcome to the community! 

Sorry to hear about your daughters anxieties, I'm just wondering if her wheelchair could be causing some anxiety, does she currently have a manual or powered wheelchair?

LollyB

Hi
she has a manual one and she had a new seating system moulded in April last year because they thought it might be that but no she’s still anxious 

Ami2301

It made me anxious and depressed using a manual wheelchair, a powered wheelchair gave me such a boost and gave me back my confidence. I'm just wondering if this would benefit her

steve51

Hi @LollyB

Yes I also though the move from a “manual to powered chair” gave me such a “boost”

The “independence”on me was “huge”

I have found some info on the current meds!!!

Please please let me know if you want me to let you have this info??

LollyB

Yes please 

LollyB

Lauren wouldn’t be able to operate a powered chair unfortunately 

steve51

Hi @LollyB

Sorry about that !!!!!

Here’s the info for you below.

https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-1024/tizanidine-oral/details

Please let me know if there’s anything else that I can help/support you with??  

Richard_Scope

Hi @LollyB

Thanks for your post. I'm sorry to read that your daughter is experiencing difficulties with anxiety and discomfort in her wheelchair.

I would first get a review of the medication with your G.P. A known side effect of Tizanidine is feelings of anxiety and nervousness and could also be affecting her sleep.

Have you asked your daughter if she is finding her moulded seat uncomfortable? It would probably be a good idea to get the seat looked at as posture can change. For example, my seating position is different to what it was a year ago. This due to a change in my spasticity as I get older. A referral to an Occupational Therapist would help to get this looked at.