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What else can I help you with?
How much money does the average Spina Bifida surgery cost?
The cost of Spina Bifida surgery can vary widely depending on factors such as the complexity of the procedure, the location, and the healthcare provider. On average, initial surgical interventions can range from $20,000 to $100,000 or more. Additional costs may arise from follow-up treatments, therapies, and ongoing medical care. It's important to check with specific healthcare facilities and insurers for precise estimates.
What will happen to my baby as I'm pregnant with Spina Bifida?
You may have to have a C-section. Spina Bifida is known to have several different causes, including the possibility of being genetic. So there is a slight chance that your child may have Spina Bifida also. But these days there are much better treatments available, such as earlier surgeries and shunting for hydrocephalus. They have a much better chance of walking now because of the earlier surgeries. For a mother with Spina Bifida, there may be some back pain issues and you will certainly have to discuss it with your ob-gyn, they may want you to be in bed for the last few months of your pregnancy.
Can you smoke weed if you have spina bifida?
Marijuana has not been proven to cause spina bifida. Having said that, the main causes of spina bifida are not well understood. It has been noticed that women who are deficient in folic acid tend to have a higher chance of having children with neural tube defects, but the exact mechanism has not been discovered.
Can you learn how to walk if you have Spina Bifida?
Yes. I have spina bifida and I'm twenty years old and I've been able to walk completely normal my entire life with no crutches or braces of any kind and have never had any complications. Not all people with Spina Bifida can walk. It depends on the severity of the condition in the individual. But with advances in medicine, children with Spina Bifida can now receive early intervention and many are able to walk, at least with crutches or a walker, if not unaided.
Spina Bifida and private health insurance?
There are some insurance that are specifically designed for people with chronic illnesses. However it is very prohibitive and will cost you much more than regualar insurance.
Can Spina Bifida end life short?
It is possible, but it depends on its severity. Some people with a strong case of meylomeningocele may have more lack of oxygen towards the brain, or more severe bladder and kidney infections due to permanent catheterization. Others wont. I suffer from the harshest one, but I can walk, run, etc and I have only needed two surgeries all my life, but I self-catheterise. So it really depends on how severe and birth deformed it affected the person.
Which chromosomes are affected by albinism?
From all I have read and studied (I am a 2nd semester senior nursing student at a major university) Spina Bifida is not so much a chromosomal defect as a neural defect caused by a lack of folic acid during the very early stages of pregnancy. This is why women who wish to get pregnant are encouraged to begin taking folic acid BEFORE they actually get pregnant.
What is spina bifida involved in?
The spinal bones in spina bifida never completely grew entirely around the spinal cord nerve. You don't "get" it, it is a birth defect. The defect can be minor, and not much affect the person's life, or be profound and keep the person in bed with the spinal cord exposed and vulnerable.
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.
Why do children with Spina Bifida have hairy patch on lower spine and should that area of skin with the hair have been on their head?
The previous answer was garbage. Hair growth from the spinal cord area has to do with mis-regulated gene expression (which may have been the cause of Spina Bifida in the first place) Early in development, some areas of tissue become overly specialized too soon, or areas which should remain stem cell-like fail do so. The neural tube will not fuse as a result, and there may be patches of terminally differentiated hair.
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 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.
