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Paralysis causes loss of muscle movements. A paralysis patient can experience loss of movement of the voluntary muscles in the body or certain areas of the body. Paralysis can be complete, partial, generalized, or localized. It is caused when there is an interruption in the nerve signals due to damage to the nerves, brain, or spinal cord. Muscles receive signals from the nerves, which help muscles to move. So, in case of paralysis, the movement of body parts becomes restricted.
Let us learn more about paralysis, its types, causes, and other aspects in this post.
Table of Contents Show
Paralysis is classified into various types, and its severity can vary depending on the affected body parts. Paralysis can be temporary or permanent, depending on the underlying cause. The table below discusses some types of paralysis:
|
Paralysis Type |
Detail |
| Diplegia |
Under Diplegia, limbs, including arms and legs on both sides of the body, are affected. For instance, this condition may affect both sides of the face, arms, legs, etc |
| Hemiplegia |
This condition generally arises due to a stroke, and it affects one side of the body as well as may harm your brain on one side |
| Locked-in Syndrome |
This is the least common type of Paralysis, yet the most severe one. Under such paralysis, the patient is unable to move muscles. They can only move the muscles that control eye movement |
| Monoplegia |
In this condition, one limb, like the leg or arm, gets affected |
| Paraplegia |
Paralysis starting around the waist is termed paraplegia |
| Quadriplegia |
Under this condition, all four limbs are paralyzed. Sometimes, certain other organs may also experience paralysis |
| Peresis |
This is the condition of partial paralysis that causes extreme muscle weakness |
As per the type of Paralysis, the paralysis symptoms differ. Here are some paralysis attack symptoms that can happen at any time. Children as well as adults can experience paralysis. Thus, it is good to know and be mindful of the symptoms.
|
Mild symptom |
Severe symptom |
|
Muscular discomfort that stays even after light exercise |
Trouble understanding, communicating, remembering, writing, or reading |
| Muscle spasms |
Face drooping and trouble moving the facial muscles |
|
Constant weakness |
Increased sensitivity to sound |
| Tingling sensation |
Rashes |
|
Longer episodes of muscular weakness |
Reduced capacity to taste |
| Pain in the affected side’s jaw or ear |
Severe headache |
|
Constipation |
Loss of eyesight or visual alterations |
| Clumsiness |
Fever |
|
Numbness |
Mood, attitude, or behavior changes |
| Diarrhea |
Loss of hearing |
|
Either nausea or vomiting, |
Drooling |
| Pain in the neck area |
Confusion or loss of consciousness |
Paralysis attack reasons can be several. Sometimes, it can be due to stroke, brain tumor, or any other disease, or it may be due to injuries and other causes. Here are some of these causes mentioned in the table below:
|
Paralysis Causes |
Explanation |
| Stroke |
Paralysis may be caused due to strokes or mini-strokes, which cause sudden loss of facial strength on one side of the body as well as speech slurring |
| Bell’s Palsy |
Bell’s Palsy is a condition when people experience sudden facial muscle weakness, causing paralysis. Here, one side of the face becomes weak |
| Injuries |
Sometimes, injuries also cause paralysis, especially severe brain or spinal injury. |
| Sleep Paralysis |
Sleep paralysis is a condition that causes momentary difficulty in moving while getting up from sleep or drifting off to sleep |
| Weakness |
Multiple sclerosis, hypokalemic periodic Paralysis, or myasthenia gravis are some cases where the paralysis patient experiences periodic weakness in the face, legs, or arms. These conditions may cause paralysis |
| Brain tumor |
Brain tumor can also cause paralysis as one side of the body gradually gets weak under this condition |
| Guillain-Barre syndrome |
Guillain-Barre syndrome can be a cause of paralysis. It starts in the legs and progresses to the face and arms within days |
| Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome |
Motor neuron illness, Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome, and spinal muscular atrophy are some conditions that cause arms and legs to be paralyzed |
| Spina Bifida |
Spina bifida is a congenital disability that can cause paralysis in the legs |
| Post-polio Syndrome |
Post-polio syndrome, caused many years after contracting polio, can also cause paralysis |
| Friedreich’s Ataxia |
Paralysis in the legs can be caused due to weakness in the legs caused by Friedreich’s ataxia or hereditary spastic paraplegia |
| Other causes |
If people with severe medical disorders and lifestyle diseases get injured, it may enhance the causes of Paralysis. For example, diabetic nerve damage which makes walking difficult |
A report by the Indian Institute of Paralysis states that in India, 12,000 to 15,000 of every one crore people have Paralysis, which is concerning. Paralysis affects life in several ways. Hence, it is important to be aware of the causes, symptoms, treatment, and, most importantly, prevention tips to avoid the condition.
The degree of paralysis also depends on the amount of muscle function loss faced by a paralysis patient. At times, patients may suffer a temporary paralysis attack and may regain complete health and movement over time. For example, in partial paralysis, or paresis, which causes substantial muscle weakness and loss of movement, the patient may have a certain degree of control over muscles that are affected.
Complete paralysis, on the other hand, is the condition when a person cannot move the affected area at all. In case of permanent paralysis, the patient may never regain muscle control in most cases, and it is considered an irreversible condition.
As per the degree of severity, Paralysis can be categorized as:
To diagnose paralysis better, the underlying cause of the paralysis must be identified. Paralysis causes loss of muscle movements and can be diagnosed by a doctor in case a patient experiences a paralysis attack symptom due to injury or any other reason. However, if the cause is due to issues in the internal organs, identifying it may become difficult. So, the patient has to undergo certain tests to identify it, as suggested by the doctor.
Below are some such tests to detect paralysis:
Tests like CT scans or MRIs help to find out the signs of stroke, brain injury, or spinal cord injury, which may have caused the paralysis. Myelogram checks for spinal cord and nerve injuries. X-rays show any broken bones, which might be the cause of nerve injury and paralysis. An electromyogram or EMG test can identify the electrical activity of muscles and nerves to suggest a paralysis. Similarly, a spinal tap (lumbar puncture) tests spinal fluid for infection, inflammation, and disorders like multiple sclerosis (MS).
Below are some treatment options that may be suggested by doctors for Paralysis patients.
Medication or surgery can be suggested to patients who suffer paralysis due to an injury to improve their condition. It may decrease the risk of other infections and damage.
Physiotherapy and exercise are highly recommended for paralysis patients to treat the condition. Especially, patients suffering from partial or total paralysis can benefit from physiotherapy.
Paralysis may cause complications due to a lack of muscle movement and function, which aid in blood circulation, mobility, and other functions like heart and lungs, especially over the long term.
Some common complications that can result from paralysis are:
Paralysis patients can improve their quality of life by using equipment like wheelchairs, including manual or electric wheelchairs. These wheelchairs help patients obtain mobility in terms of commuting within the house and short distances. This is especially helpful for people who are paralyzed from the lower part of the body and whose upper body is functioning smoothly.
Similarly, people whose upper bodies are weak can use electric wheelchairs. Further, modified vehicles are available for people with special needs. These vehicles are equipped to support people with limited movements.
Prevention of paralysis depends on the cause of the disease in many cases. Several underlying health issues or injuries can lead to Paralysis. It is seen that spinal injuries cause the most paralysis. To avoid chances of paralysis caused by spinal injury or other medical conditions, the below steps can be taken:
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~ Limited movement of some or all parts of the body, including your face
~ You can experience weakness in your face and body
~ Your face/body may get numb, or you may experience tingles all the time
~ Your face/body may become stiff with muscle spasms
By maintaining good health, regular health check-ups, and avoiding injuries to the spinal cord, one can limit the chances of paralysis.
We discussed a few tips in the post above to maintain good health and avoid spinal, head, and neck injuries, which may limit the chances of paralysis.
Paralysis can be caused by various factors. The post above discusses some of them.
PayBima Team
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