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Is muscle wasting a symptom of Spina Bifida?
Spina Bifida does cause muscle atrophy, usually in the legs, feet, bowel, and bladder.
If a child 7 years old has Spina Bifida and is having trouble with bowel accidents is this behavioral or could there be a problem that is caused by surgeries or other reasons from the Spina Bifida?
It is extremely unlikely that it is behavioral. Spina Bifida affects the nerves of the bladder and bowel as well as the legs, and will many times result in loss of control of bladder and bowel, as well as partial or complete paralysis of the legs and feet. Children with Spina Bifida can sometimes be taught to use a routine in which they empty the bowel and bladder at specific times of the day, but some cannot even control their bladder and bowel well enough to do that, and will have to wear diapers or other protection for their entire lives. Whether or not they can use a timed routine will depend on how much feeling and control of the bowel and bladder they have. A child who has Spina Bifida should never be punished or scolded for bowel or bladder accidents, as they have limited or no ability to control these functions.
Can you have a car accident and then develope spina bifida at age 32?
Not spina bifida. It is a birth defect. But you can become a paraplegic and lose the use of your legs. Spina bifida is caused most often by lack of vitamin B and probably by being exposed to certain drugs and alcohol in the womb.
Does spina bifida hurt?
The legs, hips, and feet of a person with Spina Bifida may hurt, especially if he or she develops arthritis. The amount of pain depends on the amount of paralysis. If the person has no feeling in a part, they may or may not have pain in it. There is something called "deep muscle pain" which some people with Spina Bifida may feel even in the parts of their body that are paralyzed.
How does spina bifida affect your body?
There are 3 forms of spina bifida. Spina Bifida Occulta, Meningocele, and Myelomeningocele. The worst form Myelomengingocele is the most common and the effects can include learning disabilities and sometimes developmental disabilities (mental retardation). It affects 1 in 1000 babies born. 90% of them are born with the most serious form (Myelomengingocele). Spina bifida usually results in some paralysis/loss of control of the legs, bowel, and bladder, and is often accompanied by hydrocephalus (water on the brain).
Can a fetus with spina bifida have movement?
Yes, Spina Bifida does not cause total body paralysis. Usually the paralysis is only in the feet and sometimes the legs. So the hands and arms will move just like any other baby's.
What are the cures for Spina Bifida?
There is no "cure" for Spina Bifida. Spina Bifida is a birth defect which has permanent effects on a person's life. It can be treated, but not cured. The treatment may consist of surgeries to correct the alignment of the legs, hips, and back, as well as antibiotics for infections, help with bladder and bowel control issues, leg braces and crutches/walker or a wheelchair as necessary, special help in schooling if needed, and a shunt, which is a tube that drains cerebrospinal fluid out of the brain if the individual has hydrocephalus ("water on the brain").
Is it possible for a nineteen year old with spina bifida to become strong enough so they do not need to wear leg braces anymore?
It depends on how much feeling and control you have of your feet and legs. I too have Spina Bifida, I'm 42 and as a child I walked on crutches, am now in a wheelchair, more due to arthritis than Spina Bifida. I say, go for it! If you feel you can do it, perhaps it is possible to get out of the braces, if you can stand properly without them. But you might want to talk to your orthopedic doctor about whether or not it's a feasible idea.
How does spina bifida affect a child emotionally?
Spina Bifida can affect the family, because the person that has it is most likely going to have a shorter life span. It also might affect them because they have to take care of the person, and watch them be disabled. Spina Bifida no longer is necessarily going to affect the lifespan. There are treatments for it now that can give the person a normal lifespan. They may need help in some ways from the family, but if they are cared for by themselves and/or family as well as physicians properly, they should have a normal lifespan.
Spina bifida camp ability?
I myself have Spina Bifida and went to camps for disabled children as a child. Children with Spina Bifida can usually participate in camping activities with no problem, unless the child is on crutches or a walker and does not have a wheelchair, and there is a lot of walking involved. The parents or guardians of such a child need to be aware of the need to check the child's feet and legs for sores and blisters while camping, as well as the child's bottom if the child does not walk.
How does diabetes mellitus affect Spina Bifida?
The two conditions are unrelated, but if a person has both conditions, the care of the feet becomes even more of a priority, since there will usually be lack of sensation in the feet and possibly in the legs due to the Spina Bifida. Sores on the feet or legs would therefore not be felt, and could much more easily become serious.
Does Spina Bifida go away?
Yes. It will require surgery at 1 to 2 days old to close the opening in the spine, then possibly a shunt, which is a tube to drain water off of the brain (hydrocephalus) and then during the rest of the childhood, orthopedic surgeries to straighten the legs and maximize their function, as well as possibly bladder surgery to fix any bladder control problem. The child may never walk or be able to control the function of the bowels and bladder, or they may, depending on the level of the paralysis.
