botox injections

[concerned teacher]

I have a student in my class who is nine years old who was born 3 months premature with grade four brain bleeding.  He was diagnosed with CP when he was a year old.  Doctors have perscibed botox injections for his leg since it is turned in and he has trouble walking.  He recently was given a nuerological work up and failed the exam as far as response and balance on the opposite side of his body then where the CP is present.  He wears a brace on his right leg ( the leg that is turned in)He was also recently diagnosed with absent seizures and was put on depakote. He is also on strattara for attention issues.  He has had many side effects such as headaches, stomach aches and chest pains and has had to miss school 32 times in the past year.  He weighs 64 pounds and he is 4 feet tall.  I am very worried about him and have read many pros and cons about botox.  I was wondering three things 1.  Is botox injections for CP considered on label or off label use 2.  Will this actually improve his walking and what is your opinion of the use of botox injections3.  What else can we do for him to increase his quality of life Thank you in advance for your response.

[concernedandconfused916]

A related discussion, Botox injections for my 19 month old son was started.

[joe8631]

A related discussion, botox and children was started.

[wheelsforsan]

I'm a seventeen year old. I have Cerebral Palsy. For the pass year, I got Botox injections to help me to stop grinding,  it has helped.  The last time I got Botox injections, I got sick from it.  Everyone I know has commented on my heavy breathing, I'm going to stop the Botox for now on. =

[wheelsforsan]

I'm a seventeen year old. I have Cerebral Palsy. For the pass year, I got Botox injections to help me to stop grinding,  it has helped.  The last time I got Botox injections, I got sick from it.  Everyone I know has commented on my heavy breathing, I'm going to stop the Botox for now on. =

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT]

1.Not sure if it's actually FDA approved for CP, but certainly there have been a number of reports in the literature regarding botox and CP. In fact, we do many patients here at the clinic and the side effects are minimal. Botox has helped a large number of our patients who have spastic limbs due to CP, stroke, and other neurological diseases.

2.May not improve his walking as the spasticity (depending on where it is) actually helps the leg stay straight so that the patient can walk.  The botox relaxes the muscle and in some patients with spasticity of the leg may make walking a little more difficult. In the right patient, I think that botox can be very helpful and improve patient comfort and mobility of the limb.

3.Physical and occupational therapy, range of motion exercises, appropriate braces (ankle/foot, etc...) and of course positive words of encouragement. Support from his fellow students and teachers would be very helpful.

Good luck.