PARALYSIS

WHAT IS PARALYSIS?

• Paralysis is a condition in which one or more muscles stop working properly and this affects many functions of the body.
• Paralysis is usually not caused by a problem with the muscles but by problems with the nerves or spinal cord used by the brain to control the muscles. Therefore, usually a person suffering from paralysis has some kind of damage to the nerves.
  

TYPE OF PARALYSIS

Paralysis can be area-specific, in which particular parts of the body such as the hands and face become paralyzed. It can also be common in which a large part of the body is affected.

Different medical terms are used for different types of paralysis, such as:

1. Monoplegia – In this, only one part of the body is paralyzed.
2. Hemiplegia – in this the arms and legs on one side of the body are paralyzed
3. Paraplegia – paralysis of both legs and sometimes the pelvis and some lower parts of the body
4. Tetraplegia – In this both the arms and legs are paralyzed (also called quadriplegia).
   

DUE TO PARALYSIS

Paralysis usually occurs for three common reasons:

• Stroke
• head injury
• Spinal cord injury – the spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that are attached to the spine and help control the muscles of the body
• Multiple sclerosis
• Sometimes paralysis can also be caused by many other problems such as cerebral palsy and Guillain Berry syndrome.
  

LIVING WITH PARALYSIS

The type and level of paralysis usually determines its impact on a person’s life and daily activities. For example, if a person has paraplegia in the lower part of the body, he can use a wheelchair to do his daily work and lead an active life. However, paralysis of both arms and legs (tetraplegia/quadriplegia) always needs someone’s help and cannot live without a caregiver. Many other problems can also occur due to paralysis such as urinary incontinence (inability to hold urine) and bowel incontinence (leaking stool from the rectum). It affects sexual function in both men and women. There is usually no cure for paralysis at present, except for a few conditions.

Therefore, in case of permanent paralysis, the aim of treatment is to:

• helping the person live as independently as possible
• Telling about any associated complications resulting from paralysis, such as pressure ulcers (sores that develop because of too much pressure on the affected area of ​​tissue)
• Telling about problems related to the bladder and bowels
• Treating cramps and complications caused by paralysis
• Mobility aids, such as wheelchairs and orthoses, can help a person with paralysis.
• Manual wheelchairs are made for people who have a perfectly healthy upper body. Whereas electric wheelchairs are designed for people who have weak upper body muscles or are paralyzed on all four limbs.
  

SYMPTOMS OF PARALYSIS

Paralysis is classified in several ways. As such it may be localized affecting a particular part of the body. Also it can be generalized which affects a large part of the body.

• Localized paralysis includes:

• Facial paralysis – usually paralysis on one side of the face
• hand paralysis
• Vocal cord paralysis—The vocal cords are bands of tissue and muscle that are used for speaking; Paralysis usually affects only one vocal cord which means the person is able to speak but their voice may become hoarse or loud
  

• Generalized paralysis includes:

• Monoplegia – in which only one limb is paralyzed
• Hemiplegia – In this, the arms and legs on one side of the body are paralyzed
• Paraplegia – In this both the legs are paralyzed or sometimes the pelvis or some lower parts of the body are affected
• Tetraplegia (also called quadriplegia) – both arms and legs are paralyze
• Temporary and permanent paralysis
  

• Paralysis can be either temporary or permanent.

Bell palsy is a common cause of temporary paralysis that can lead to temporary facial paralysis. Sometimes, the paralysis that occurs after a stroke can also be temporary. Paralysis caused by a severe injury, such as a broken neck, is usually permanent.

• Partial – In this some muscles do not work and sensation is felt, eg, the person can move one leg while the other does not, or he feels a sensation like cold or hot
• Complete – In this, none of the muscles of the person work and there is a sensation in the affected parts. Spastic or flaccid paralysis

PARALYSIS CAN BE OF THE FOLLOWING TYPES:

• Spastic – In this, the muscles of the affected limbs feel stiff or spasm and the person does not have control over the movement of the muscles (read about spastic paraplegia).
• Flaccid – In this, the muscles of the affected organs become unformed and weak. In flaccid paralysis, the muscles contract.
• People with spastic paralysis may experience muscle weakness along with spasms (involuntary muscle contractions). Whereas a person suffering from flaccid paralysis usually experiences muscle weakness without cramps.
• In the case of problems such as motor neuron disease or cerebral palsy, spastic paralysis followed by flaccid paralysis may be experienced.
  

CAUSES OF PARALYSIS

Paralysis is caused by four common causes of stroke, head injury, spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis.

• Stroke

Stroke is a serious health problem. This usually occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted.

Like other organs, the brain needs a constant supply of blood containing oxygen and nutrients to function properly. When the blood supply to the brain is interrupted, brain cells begin to die, causing brain damage and paralysis.

• Head injury

Brain damage occurs due to a severe head injury. Scratches or injuries to the lining of the brain can damage blood vessels and nerves. A severe head injury damages a part of the brain that controls specific muscles. Due to this the person becomes paralyzed. When the left side of the brain is damaged, the right side of the body becomes paralyzed and when the right side of the brain is damaged, the left side of the body becomes paralyzed.

• Spinal cord injury

The spinal cord is part of the central nervous system. It is a thick bundle of nerves that are connected to the brain, vertebrae to the neck and spine. Its main function is to send signals to and from the brain and body. For example, the spinal cord passes nerve signals, such as feeling hot or cold. If the neck or spine is injured, the spinal cord can also be damaged. This means that the brain will no longer be able to send signals to the muscles. Due to which the person can become paralyzed. The place where the spinal cord injury occurs can be most affected. The greater the injury to the spine, the greater the paralysis.

The most common causes of spinal cord injury are:

• motor vehicle accident
• accident while working
  accident during sport or other type of activity
• Fall
• spinal cord paralysis due to disease rather than injury
• The majority of spinal cord injuries occur in men and young people (which account for 80% of all cases.) An estimated half of all spinal cord injuries occur in people who are 16-30 years of age.
  

• Multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition in which nerve fibers in the spinal cord are damaged by the immune system. The immune system mistakenly attacks a substance called myelin, which surrounds nerve fibers and helps with the transmission of nerve signals. In MS, the myelin around nerve fibers is damaged, which disrupts messages to and from the brain. This may result in paralysis.

LESS COMMON CAUSES OF PARALYSIS

less common causes of paralysis are listed below.

• Cancer

Cancers that develop in the brain, such as brain tumors, can cause paralysis, usually on one side of the body. Cancer (metastasis) can spread from other parts of the body to the brain or spinal cord, causing paralysis.

• Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy Cerebral palsy are neurological problems (affecting the brain and nervous system) that affect a child’s movement and coordination.
Cerebral palsy is caused by brain damage that usually occurs before or after birth. Some possible causes of cerebral palsy include:

• infection during pregnancy
• premature birth or trouble giving birth
• baby brain hemorrhage
• abnormal brain development in baby
• The most severe type of cerebral palsy is called spastic quadriplegia, in which muscle spasms (spasticity) in all parts of a person’s limbs are so severe that they are unable to use them.