Spasticity Treatment Cost in India

Spasticity treatment in India typically ranges from $500 to $6,000 USD, depending on the hospital, city, and type of procedure.

Spasticity is muscle stiffness caused by damage to the brain or spinal cord, for example after stroke, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy or brain injury. Cost depends mainly on which level of treatment is needed:

• Therapy and oral medicines: physiotherapy, stretching, splints and drugs such as baclofen or tizanidine.
• Botulinum toxin injections: targeted to specific muscles; the effect wears off, so injections are repeated.
• Intrathecal baclofen (ITB) pump: an implanted device; the pump itself is expensive and refills continue for life.
• Orthopaedic or neurosurgical procedures: such as tendon lengthening or selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) in selected children with cerebral palsy.

An ITB pump implant usually costs more than the upper end of the range above; ask for a separate itemised quote if it is being considered.

According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), treatment usually moves from the least invasive options to more intensive ones only if needed:

• Physical and occupational therapy: stretching, positioning and strengthening are the base of every plan.
• Oral medicines: baclofen, tizanidine, dantrolene and benzodiazepines; drowsiness and weakness can limit doses.
• Botulinum toxin: relaxes chosen muscles for roughly 12 to 16 weeks per injection, according to AANS.
• Intrathecal baclofen: delivers the drug directly to the spinal fluid, so much smaller doses are needed; a trial injection is done first.
• Selective dorsal rhizotomy: cuts selected sensory nerve rootlets in the lower spine, mainly for children with spastic cerebral palsy.

Spasticity is not always harmful: some people use leg stiffness to help them stand or transfer. Good treatment starts with agreed goals, such as:

• Easier walking or transfers: reducing stiffness without removing useful tone.
• Less pain and fewer spasms: especially at night.
• Easier care: dressing, hygiene and positioning in a wheelchair.
• Preventing contractures: permanent shortening of muscles and tendons that later needs surgery.

Measuring progress against these goals helps decide whether to continue, add or stop a treatment.

The length of stay depends on the procedure.

• Assessment and Botox: a few days for review, injections and a therapy plan.
• ITB pump: screening trial, implantation and dose adjustment, usually needing a longer stay; plan how refills will be done at home before choosing it.
• SDR: surgery followed by intensive physiotherapy for many months, much of it at home.
• Bring: videos of walking or spasms at home, previous scans, and records of past Botox doses.