Baclofen pump OTPT information (1229)
Key points below
Please share this with your child’s Physical or Occupational Therapists. It will help them plan your child’s therapy after a pump is placed.
Your child can go back to school when the healthcare provider says it is ok. Most often it will be about 7 days after surgery.
- Do not let your child bend, twist, reach over head or do too much stretching at the waist.Keep movements small for 4 weeks.This will help keep the catheter in place.
- Your child will need to do exercises to strengthen and stretch muscles.Learning new ways to balance and move will take time.Balance and movement will also change with medicine dose changes.
- Ultrasound, heat and electrical stimulation are fine.Do not do any of these things right over the pump site.
- Check orthotics, braces, wheelchairs and other devices.Wait until a stable medicine dose is reached before making changes in orthotics.
- Water therapy and belly crawling can start once the skin is healed.
- Check your child’s safety while moving or walking.Check to see how transfers should be done as your child’s balance changes. Ways of moving or helping your child may need to be changed.
- Changes in dosing and timing of medicine may be needed to help with your child’s function and care. Therapy goals may change over time, especially if your child’s medicine doses change. Talk with your child’s doctor if you feel changes should be made.