What Causes Paralysis?
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Paralysis is a medical condition characterized by the inability to move one or more muscles. In most cases, a person experiencing paralysis also loses all feeling in the affected area. Paralysis may be temporary, depending on the cause. If it is the result of damage to the nervous system, it is usually consistent. Sleep paralysis, on the other hand, only affects a person during the time that immediately precedes sleep or immediately after waking up.
There are many potential causes of paralysis. The two most common causes of paralysis in the United States are stroke and trauma, particularly to the nervous system or the brain. Certain diseases or afflictions, such as poliomyelitis, peroneal dystrophy, spina bifida, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Bell’s palsy, Guillain-Barre Syndrome, and multiple sclerosis may also cause paralysis to occur. Botulism, paralytic shellfish poisoning, and certain types of poisons, particularly those that directly affect the nervous system, may also lead to paralysis.
The precise type of paralysis a person experiences depends on the underlying cause. With Bell’s palsy, for example, the paralysis is usually localized, which means it only affects a small area of the person’s body. Typically, only one side of the person’s face becomes paralyzed as the facial nerve on that side becomes inflamed. When only one side of a person’s body is affected, paralysis is considered unilateral. When it affects both sides, it is bilateral.
A person who has experienced a stroke, on the other hand, may experience weakness throughout his or her body. This is referred to as global paralysis. Conversely, the person may only experience weakness on one side of his or her body. Medically, this is known as hemiplegia.
Generally, the most severe form of paralysis is caused by damage to the spinal cord. A person who experiences trauma in his or her upper spinal cord may develop quadriplegia as a result. A person who is quadriplegic is unable to move his or her arms and legs. Injury to the lower spinal cord may cause paraplegia, which results in either the legs or the arms becoming paralyzed.
In severe cases of paralysis, it may be necessary for the individual to be fed through feeding tubes. Occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy may also be necessary to help treat paralysis.
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18
I am having symptoms of seizures. I see flashing lights and hear noises that are not here, I feel my head rocking back and forth on the pillows, I also am having drop attacks. I am walking and will just drop for no reason. I don't lose consciousness that I am aware of. I had two episodes very recently where I was completely paralyzed. I tried to yell and scream for help, but nothing would come out, I could see that my hands were flaccid in my lap, even though I was trying with all my might to move. These last over five minutes and are very frightening. I am having horrible headaches on left side of head. Do I need to be seeking immediate help or should I wait and see? I have a EEG scheduled for Tuesday this week, but am scared. I have a headache now and have had it all day. - anon63100
17
my left eye area shrinks badly. it turns in to a small size frequently. in other words, all conditions and situations just like yoga guru baba ramdev. please if you have any ideas, cause and treatment for me, let me know. - anon53616
16
This was about 15 minutes ago, and I was half-asleep and my body just went in shock and I couldn't move, I could see my foot move up and down thinking it was a ghost or something, because various reasons, it was a weird feeling. BTW, im only 15. - anon52778
Editor's reply: See this topic for more information: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-sleep-paralysis.htm
15
my mother is 63 years old. She was in an accident a year and four months ago. she was able to walk after the accident but the next day she couldn't move her legs at all and had a little numbness. now she is able to move her toes a little bit and she has her feelings back in her legs. her toes are still a little numb but she can move her toes. is my mother on her way to walking again? she never stopped using the bathroom on her own. she can control all that. she just is not able to walk and she is off balance when she tries to sit up. She can't stand on her own but if we help her stand she can do it. Her knees used to buckle but now they don't buckle, but they are not strong enough for her to stand on her own. what else can i do to help my mother improve her condition so she can walk again on her own? the question is: is there a chance that she will walk again with all the improvement? - anon52241
14
my son' right half of his body is paralysed. please send adivice for this treatment. - anon50721
13
My mother is 60 years old. Last week she got a paralysis attack. Not her complete body, but the right side of her face is affected. She is going to the physiotherapist once a day but no improvement has been seen in the last week. Can anyone suggest if some precautions need to be taken? I am very upset for her. Also let me know if there anything serious or is there a possibility of increasing or it will be cured as she has started taking treatment in the initial stage only, and how much time it will take to be cured. - anon44442
12
my mother recently had varicous veins removed from her leg carried out by a spinal anesetic procedure. This was three weeks ago and she still has no feeling in her foot or lower leg! She doesn't seem to be getting any straight answers from her GPs.
Can anyone help with this as it is very worrying? Will the feeling come back?? - anon43582
11
i need to know what I can do for left hand paralysis? - anon42531
9
my left thumb doesn't move freely as before. my hands also shivers. what is the main cause of it? is there any treatment for this? - anon23642
8
my father in law was suffering from paralysis and after first stroke he was able to walk within 3-4 months. and now again he got second stroke, his condition was so critical, but now he is getting improvement in hand and left movement.
as per my knowledge the best and only way is "physiotherapy", of course it should be done under the direction of a physiotherapist. and also bp & sugar control is necessary and supporting factor to get well soon. - anon16214
7
My daughter is 19 and has been through many stressful situations over the last year and has been having seizures (with unconsciousness) Her last seizure was followed by paralysis of her legs and feet. Her doctors have all agreed that her anxiety and stress has caused the paralysis. Is this possible? - anon13277
6
i am a 30 year old mother of 2. my husband was arrested and jailed for drug smuggling 7 months back. i was in great depression and could not sleep at all since then. i wanted to go to jail to meet my husband, but my parents did not allow me to go. so i thought of going to meet him secretly. i become scared whenever i thought of meeting him and as days passed this problem become severe. one day when i was walking home from office, i had a fall. i was unconscious and wasn't breathing for about 5 minutes. i was taken to hospital. my blood pressure at that time was 190/100, and when i got consciousness i could not move my right leg and right arm (i was having weakness on the right side). i also dont have sensation on the right side of the body and the doctors said that i had a stroke and was right side paralyzed. my parents were not happy about the diagnosis and they took me to another hospital. here the neurologists said that i am not having real paralysis or neurological problem and i need psychiatric treatment. they said its all because of depression and prescribed some medicine. i was then taken to a psychiatrist and he also said that it is a 100% psychiatric problem. he also prescribed some medicines. its been a month and now i can move my hands properly..but still i could not believe that this is a psychiatric problem. i still could not move my leg and hav no sensation on that.
i'd like to know the cause of this paralysis..also is it a psychological or neurological problem..whom should i consult?? my husband is still in jail and i still become scared when i thought of meeting him. because i am very sensitive and am afraid something strange might happen. - anon13040
1
When young, I woke up one morning and my legs wouldnt support me. I remember being told to lie without moving at home ( we were too poor for a hospital ) and I was given some type of medicine. For months I lay in bed in a dark bedroom. After months of no feeling in my legs, I recall pain in my legs when they carried me to the bathroom. An eventual visit to the doctors and he said I was cured. I could walk then.
Any ideas what was the cause of this paralysis? I'd had no injuries prior. - anon302
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Shannon Kietzman
Last Modified: 30 January 2010
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