223: Spasticity Management From A Physician With Dr. Cassandra List, MD

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On this week’s episode we hosted a specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dr. List and occupational therapist Briana Elson, MS, OTR/L, BCPR, CBIS to share insights on spasticity management, focusing on the use of neurotoxin injections and collaboration between physicians and therapists.

Key discussion points included:

When do you recommend medication versus injection for spasticity management?

What do you consider when deciding on a treatment plan for someone with spasticity?

What does botulinum toxin do versus what does it not do?

When is it too early or too late for neurotoxin injections? Is there research showing that earlier treatment with neurotoxins can prevent symptoms from worsening?

Are neurotoxins typically covered by insurance for people?

How do you differentiate between spasticity and hypertonicity?

What's the best way to get a good outcome when injecting for contractures?

Do people need neurotoxin injections continuously to manage spasticity, or do some only need it temporarily?

When do you decide that intrathecal baclofen might be necessary instead of injections?

How do you respond to concerns about weakness from neurotoxin injections?

Does neurotoxin treatment help with pain associated with spasticity?

What's the best way for therapists to communicate with physicians about patient needs for spasticity management?

Who can perform neurotoxin injections, and how can patients find a provider?

This session highlighted the complexity of spasticity management and the need for a multidisciplinary approach. By combining medical interventions with therapy and ongoing assessment, we can help our patients achieve their functional goals and improve their quality of life.