What
is paralysis?
Paralysis is a loss of muscle function
in part of your body. It can be localized or generalized, partial or complete,
and temporary or permanent. Paralysis can affect any part of your body at any
time in your life. If you experience it, you probably won’t feel pain in the
affected areas.
A treatment plan and outlook for the
condition will depend on the underlying cause of paralysis, as well as symptoms
experienced. Technological innovations and therapeutic interventions may help
you maintain your independence and quality of life.
Types of paralysis
Doctors can classify paralysis in many different ways:
Location
Localized paralysis affects only one part of your body, such as
your face or hand.
Generalized paralysis is a group of conditions that affect
multiple body parts. The types include:
- monoplegia,
which affects only one arm or leg
- hemiplegia,
which affects one arm and one leg on the same side of your body
- paraplegia,
which affects both of your legs
- quadriplegia, or
tetraplegia, which affects both of your arms and both of your legs
Severity
If you have partial paralysis, you’ll have some control over the
muscles in the affected body parts. If you have complete paralysis, you’ll have
no control over the muscles in the affected areas.
Duration
Your paralysis may be temporary. For example, Bell’s palsy is a condition that can
cause temporary paralysis of your face. Strokes can also temporarily paralyze
one side of your body. With time and treatment, you may regain some or all of
your feeling and coordination.
In other cases, your paralysis may be permanent.
Flaccid or spastic
Flaccid paralysis causes your muscles to shrink and become
flabby. It results in muscle weakness. Spastic paralysis involves tight and
hard muscles. It can cause your muscles to twitch uncontrollably, or spasm.
Causes of paralysis
Some people are born paralyzed. Others
develop paralysis due to an accident or a medical condition.
According to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, stroke is the
leading cause of paralysis in the United States. It’s responsible for nearly 30
percent of cases. Spinal cord injury accounts for an estimated 23 percent of
cases. Multiple sclerosis causes an estimated 17 percent of
cases.
Other causes of paralysis include:
- cerebral palsy
- post-polio syndrome
- traumatic brain injury
- neurofibromatosis
- birth defects
Symptoms of paralysis.
The symptoms of paralysis are usually easy to identify. If you
experience paralysis, you’ll lose function in a specific or widespread area of
your body. Sometimes a tingling or numbing sensation can occur before total
paralysis sets in. Paralysis will also make it difficult or impossible to
control muscles in the affected body parts.
Paralysis diagnosed.
Diagnosing paralysis is often easy, especially when your loss of
muscle function is obvious. For internal body parts where paralysis is more
difficult to identify, your doctor may use X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, or
other imaging studies.
If you experience a spinal cord injury, your doctor may use
myelography to assess your condition. In this procedure, they’ll insert a
special dye into the nerves in your spinal cord. This will help them see your
nerves more clearly on X-rays. They may also perform an electromyography. In
this procedure, they’ll use sensors to measure electrical activity in your
muscles.
Paralysis
treatment
A treatment plan will depend on the
underlying cause of the paralysis, as well the symptoms experienced. For
example, a doctor may prescribe:
- surgery or possible amputation
- physical therapy
- occupational therapy
- mobility aids, such as
wheelchairs, braces, mobile scooters, or other devices
- medications, such as Botox or
muscle relaxers, if you have spastic paralysis
In many cases, paralysis isn’t curable.
But a healthcare team can recommend a variety of treatments, tools, and
strategies to help manage symptoms.
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