A birth injury is any type of injury a child undergoes during birth. Traumatic births caused by incompetent medical health practitioners can lead to grievous birth injuries in children. Often, birth injuries heal on their own without any treatments. Other times, medical intervention is necessary. However, some conditions arising from a birth injury are quite serious and have no cure.
Conditions like cerebral palsy can lead to movement and coordination problems. Brain injuries sustained at birth can lead to developmental delays and permanent cognitive disabilities. The child has to learn to live with the outcomes of these conditions for the rest of their life. Here are a few ways a birth injury can impact a child’s future and shape adulthood.
Need for long-term care
As an adult living with any serious condition arising from a birth injury, you will need frequent visits to specialist doctors for your whole life.
Additionally, physical therapy will be needed to keep your muscles functioning properly. Without proper physiotherapy, muscles not in use start to weaken and wither. Some conditions may require surgeries. In extreme cases, nursing care may also be needed. Anyhow, frequent hospital visits will always be in the cards. Insurance may not cover these expenses, leaving you and your family in a financial crisis. You may choose to file a cerebral palsy lawsuit to get justice for yourself and monetary compensation to pay for the medical expenses.
Can cause premature aging
A lot of birth injuries can cause premature aging when you reach adulthood. Even if the condition is non-progressive, premature aging can make it seem like the problem is worsening. You may start requiring the use of mobility aids like wheelchairs, adult walkers, or crutches. If your condition is serious enough, you might lose the ability to walk altogether.
Pain and stiffness of joints can worsen, and lung and heart problems may start arising. You might also contract secondary health conditions like diabetes, stroke, arthritis, and hypertension. These can cause your quality of life to decline further.
May lead to mental health issues
As most of the conditions arising from birth injuries are primarily physical, the mental toll they take on you is usually ignored. However, chronic, lifelong conditions can have far-reaching consequences on your mental health.
The constant pain and discomfort and the feeling of being isolated from the rest of the world can lead to depression. While others may take a vacation to lift their spirits and alleviate the symptoms of depression and anxiety, you might not be able to do that because of your physical limitations. Hence, it is extremely important to identify a mental health issue timely and seek professional help before it progresses. You may want to try individual therapy, medications, or support groups for people suffering from your condition.
May develop a post-impairment syndrome
Post-impairment syndrome occurs when you repeatedly use the maximum energy you can, leaving yourself drained. Activities that others do not even have to think about performing may lead you to exert yourself too much. For example, climbing some stairs or walking to a nearby store may leave you winded. When you continue to do these activities every day for a long period of time, post impairment syndrome occurs.
You can start to experience worsened chronic fatigue and muscle weakness. If your responsibilities do not allow you to avoid high-energy chores, start working with an occupational therapist, as they can help you learn ways to get your job done without overextending yourself.
Challenges of pain management
Birth injuries cause abnormalities in bones, muscles, and joints. These cause discomfort in your childhood, which can progress to pain as you reach adulthood. This pain will continue to grow as you age. You may also develop osteoarthritis because of too much pressure on your joints, including your knees, hips, ankles, and back. Hence, you will want to learn ways of pain management in occupational therapy or avoid doing activities that put too much strain on your joints.
You may also start taking medication to alleviate the pain, although this should always be done after a thorough consultation with your doctor. You should also be aware of the risks of developing a dependency on prescription pain medication.
Restricts your career choice
Some children with birth injuries require specialized education due to developmental delays. But if your condition isn’t as severe, you may be able to go to a regular school and study the same curriculum as other children. However, you might still be at a disadvantage when looking at career choices.
There will be many career paths that you will not be able to take because of your physical limitations. You also may not be able to move for a job if it is in a town where you can’t get the care you need. This can make it challenging to have a successful career. However, many people with disabilities still manage to find something they are passionate about and go on to have very fulfilling careers.
Can make socializing a challenge
One of the biggest problems you will face is social isolation, as your condition will make it hard for you to go out and meet people. Many activities will be off-limits to you due to your physical limitations. Activities that are possible for you to participate in would also prove to be challenging. There will be many hobbies like hiking, swimming, or adventure traveling that you will be unable to experience with your peers. However, if you meet the right group of people, they will do everything they can to accommodate you and make you feel included.
Conclusion
Birth injuries can sometimes lead to lifelong medical conditions that follow you into your adult life. You may require the care of doctors or nurses for an extended time. You may also require physical therapy to help keep your muscles and joints functioning. Some conditions can cause fatigue and weakness, leading to the post-impairment syndrome. You may experience chronic pain or start to age prematurely. You may have chronic pain in your joints and muscles. You may also start experiencing mental health problems.
Meeting new people and making friends can also be very challenging. Finding a career suited to your abilities can also be very hard. Thus, a birth injury can have very far-reaching consequences for you.
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