Emily Sortor  |  January 28, 2020

Category: Legal News

Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.

Doctors may be able to partially treat cerebellar ataxia.Cerebellar ataxia is a movement condition that can have significant and long-term effects on a patient’s lifestyle. Facing a cerebellar ataxia diagnosis can be daunting. In some cases, it may be curable, but other cases may not be curable. In this case, treatment involving therapy and adaptations in a patient’s environment can drastically improve quality of life.

What Is Cerebellar Ataxia?

Ataxia is a condition characterized by a lack of muscle coordination. This can affect a range of functions, including speaking, eye movement, swallowing, walking, and fine motor skills. 

Cerebellar ataxia, one type of ataxia, results from damage or lack of function of the cerebellum. The cerebellum is the part of the brain that regulates motor control, coordination, and sensory perception, explains Medical News Today.

What Are the Symptoms of Cerebellar Ataxia?

Symptoms of cerebellar ataxia can include:

  • Lack of limb coordination
  • Decreased muscle tone
  • Jerking or shaking movements
  • Inability to perform quick movements
  • Lack of balance

Is It Possible to Treat Cerebellar Ataxia?

Because cerebellar ataxia can have a range of causes, treatment can depend on the cause and severity of the condition. 

The cerebellum can suffer damage from a range of factors. Johns Hopkins Medicine explains that these conditions can include vitamin deficiency, traumatic brain injury, genetic mutations, conditions like dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, or exposure of the brain to toxins.

When the cerebellum is damaged, in a condition called cerebellar atrophy or cerebellar degeneration, its function is impaired and the cerebellum can even shrink in size. In cases in which cerebellar atrophy is caused by exposure to toxins, cerebellar ataxia symptoms may improve with the removal of the toxin. 

Similarly, Johns Hopkins explains that if cerebellar ataxia is caused by a tumor, a patient’s condition may improve if the tumor is removed. 

Johns Hopkins goes on to say that factors like fatigue, alcohol use, anxiety, stress, and certain medications may worsen cerebellar ataxia, so treatment may involve limiting these factors.

Can Medications Treat Cerebellar Ataxia?

Unfortunately, medication does not usually help slow the progression of cerebellar ataxia. One exception to this is if ataxia is caused by a vitamin deficiency. In this case, patients do often see improvement in their cerebellar ataxia. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, cerebellar atrophy caused by deficiencies of vitamin E or coenzyme Q10 is often treatable.

However, some medications may help treat leg tremors associated with cerebellar ataxia. 

Another kind of ataxia, episodic ataxia type-2, can often be treated, says Johns Hopkins.

How Is Ataxia Treated if It Is Not Curable?

In many cases, patients may benefit from physical, occupational, and mental therapy to treat cerebellar ataxia. These therapies can help patients with ataxia best handle the challenges of their condition. Increasing strength and balance through exercise may help patients compensate for the lack of strength and balance caused by their condition. 

As ataxia patients can be at risk for accidents or falls, adaptive devices like wheelchairs or walkers can help patients move around with ease and independence. Similarly, changes that can make a patient’s environment more accessible and easily navigable may go a long way towards making patients’ lives more convenient. 

In general, phenytoin lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions.

Do YOU have a legal claim? Fill out the form on this page now for a free, immediate, and confidential case evaluation. The attorneys who work with Top Class Actions will contact you if you qualify to let you know if an individual Dilantin lawsuit or Dilantin class action lawsuit is best for you. Hurry — statutes of limitations may apply.

Learn More

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.

We tell you about cash you can claim EVERY WEEK! Sign up for our free newsletter.


Get Help – It’s Free

Join a Free Dilantin, Phenytoin Cerebellar Atrophy Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you or a loved one were injured by Dilantin/phenytoin side effects, you may have a legal claim. Fill out the form for a free case evaluation.

An attorney will contact you if you qualify to discuss the details of your potential case.

PLEASE NOTE: If you want to participate in this investigation, it is imperative that you reply to the law firm if they call or email you. Failing to do so may result in you not getting signed up as a client or getting you dropped as a client.

Oops! We could not locate your form.

Please note: Top Class Actions is not a settlement administrator or law firm. Top Class Actions is a legal news source that reports on class action lawsuits, class action settlements, drug injury lawsuits and product liability lawsuits. Top Class Actions does not process claims and we cannot advise you on the status of any class action settlement claim. You must contact the settlement administrator or your attorney for any updates regarding your claim status, claim form or questions about when payments are expected to be mailed out.