If your child is suffering from Erb’s palsy due to an injury at birth or you suspect that they are, you will likely be aware that they may need rehabilitation therapy to help them recover from the effects of their injury.
One of the most common concerns people have in these circumstances is how long rehabilitation will take as they, understandably, want their child to recover as soon as possible. Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to that question as the length of time rehabilitation will take entirely depends on the circumstances, including how serious the damage is and what type of treatment is needed.
In general, with the right treatment, most infants will recover from Erb’s palsy within 1-12 month. However, in cases of more serious damage, a full recovery can take much longer and some degree of lasting damage may be unavoidable in rare cases.
What effects how long Erb’s palsy recovery takes?
Because Erb’s palsy is caused by damage to the brachial plexus nerves of the shoulder, the extent of that damage is usually the main factor in how long recovery will take.
For mild nerve damage, hydrotherapy and physical therapy are often enough to achieve a full recovery, which can typically be achieved in around 1 to 4 months if the child is given the right support by medical staff and their parents.
However, where there is more serious damage to the brachial plexus nerves or where a child has made little or no improvement in the first six months, surgery may be required to repair the damage. This may involve nerve decompression surgery to alleviate pressure from surrounding tissue on the affected nerves or it may involve grafting tissue from health nerves on the brachial plexus nerves to repair the damage.
Where surgical intervention is required, recovery from Erb’s palsy can take a year or more. This is because the child needs to recover from the surgery and then have further hydrotherapy, physical therapy and/or occupational therapy to help them gain proper use of their arm.
How to fund Erb’s palsy rehabilitation
Given the importance of getting swift treatment for Erb’s palsy, many people choose to seek private treatment to avoid NHS waiting times and make sure their child gets all of the help and support they need. Funding private treatment can be expensive, however, which is one of the reasons many people choose to pursue Erb’s palsy compensation.
Compensation can be used to pay for rehabilitation therapy and other types of support, as well as compensating you for any other financial and non-financial impact from your child’s injury. Making a claim can seem complicated and intimidating, which is why it is a good idea to work with a lawyer specialising in Erb’s palsy compensation.
A specialist clinical negligence lawyer will be able to guide you through the whole process of making a claim, giving you the best chance of securing a fair settlement while keeping things as simple and stress-free as possible. This may include agreeing interim payments to cover the cost of rehabilitation therapy while your claim is ongoing. That way, you can get the funding you need for your child’s rehabilitation as quickly and easily as possible.
