Hi, I'm M4RYB! Does anyone else have a similar experience of CP and the natural ageing process?

M4RYB

Good morning,
I’ve  just joined your community.
I was diagnosed with CP when I was 10 months old - I am now 73. I was 3 months premature and weighed two and a half pounds.
The CP affects my left side. My left arm is at 90 degrees - it won’t straighten. My left hand is smaller than my right. Now my left hand is becoming increasingly like a fist and my fingers are curling under the palm - has anyone else experienced this?
Also my neck and shoulders are becoming increasingly tense and achy.
I need reassurance that everything I’m experiencing now is a combination of CP and the natural ageing process. For the record my mobility has deteriorated and I’m on meds for anxiety & depression. My husband is paraplegic due to spina bifida -  we are codependent and look after ourselves except for having a cleaner.
Thanks for reading.
M

Ross_Alumni

Hello @M4RYB

Welcome to the community, it's good to see you join us  

Thank you for introducing yourself and telling us a bit about what you are going through. I appreciate it must be quite worrying when you experience changing symptoms so I completely understand why you are asking about this. 

Have you contacted your GP or specialist about the development in your symptoms? If you have any concerns they would probably be best placed to advise.

janer1967

Hi and welcome to the community Feel free to join in or ask any questions 

Sorry about your situation it's great you support each other and hope we can help support you too 

Richard_Scope

Hi @M4RYB

I live with quadriplegic CP myself and I'm very well acquainted with the joys of ageing with our impairment. Here is some information that your G.P. should know about but frustratingly most G.P.s don't seem to. At least in my experience.

 

Adult Cerebral Palsy Care Pathway (your G.P. should know about this)

• Managing cerebral palsy in people aged 25 or over - NICE Pathways
• RJAH - Site Search
• Adult Cerebral Palsy : University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (uclh.nhs.uk)

Fatigue

• Cerebral palsy and fatigue | Disability charity Scope UK
• What's Spoon Theory? - The Brain Charity
• Ageing and cerebral palsy | Disability charity Scope UK

 

Here is some information about Post-Impairment Syndrome, which might also be helpful.

VANGOUGH

NO SUCH THING AS NORMAL AGEING AS THE EFFECTS OF THE USE & MISUSE OF OUR BODIES PUT IT THROUGH A BURDERN IT WOULD NOT NORMALLY GO THROUGH AT YOUNGER AGES IT CAN START IN THE TEENS ^& I AM GOING BY THE MAC KEITH MEETING IN EARLY 000s ITS OFTEN THE WEIGHT BARING ON OUR LIMBS & JOINTS THAT AFFECT IT THERE WERE  DOCUMENTS ONE BY PAUL PYMM & ONE DONE BY UCLAN BY DIANNA COX OFTEN THER MILDER CP FEELS IT MORE AS THEY PUT PRESSURE ON THAT THOSE IN CHAIRS WITH VERY LITTLE MOVEMENT