Paralysis is a condition of paralysis due to disturbances in the nerves that play a role in regulating the body's muscle movements. Paralysis makes limbs immobile. This condition is most often experienced by stroke survivors or people who have suffered spinal cord injuries.
Paralysis has a big impact on life because it can make disability in everyday life. Paralysis due to paralysis can occur in one area of the body and can also occur as a whole. This condition can also occur suddenly or slowly and spread.
Various Symptoms of Paralysis
A common symptom of paralysis is the loss of the ability to move a limb. In addition, some other symptoms that may arise due to paralysis are:
- Muscle stiffness with twitching
- Pain and tingling
- Numb
- Weakness and weakness in the muscles
- Difficulty speaking and swallowing
- Difficulty breathing
The paralysis symptoms above can appear gradually or suddenly. Manifestations of paralysis also vary, for example:
- Only the face occurs (facial paralysis)
- Only occurs on one side of the body (hemiplegia)
- Occurs in both hands and feet (tetraplegia or quadriplegia)
- Occurs in both legs (paraplegia)
This difference in the form of paralysis can usually determine the cause and location of the nerve damage that occurs.
Get to know Pcause paralysis
Although the body's muscles are affected, it does not mean that the paralysis is caused by a problem with the muscles. Generally, this paralysis occurs due to abnormalities in the motor nerves or spinal nerves that carry movement messages from the brain.
There are several factors that cause paralysis. Each of these factors can have different symptoms with each other. Here is the explanation:
1. Stroke
Paralysis is one of the symptoms that occur in stroke. Usually, paralysis occurs on one side of the face and body. This paralysis can be evenly distributed on one side of the body or only in some areas on one side of the body. Paralysis can also occur suddenly, especially if what happened was a hemorrhagic stroke.
2. Bell's palsy
Bell's palsy can also cause paralysis of one side of the face suddenly, but this time caused by disorders of the facial peripheral nerves. Symptoms of disease Bell's palsy in each person can be different, some are only in the form of mild muscle weakness and some are in the form of total paralysis on one side of the face.
3. Multiple sclerosis
Paralysis caused by multiple sclerosis usually occurs gradually. This disease usually begins with symptoms such as visual disturbances, pain or tingling, until slowly progressing to paralysis of the face, arms, and legs.
4. Injury
Impact or trauma to the head that results in impaired brain function can cause paralysis. In addition, injury to the spinal cord can also cause paralysis.
5. Motor neuron disease
Paralysis due to motor nerve disease is rare. This disease is thought to be caused by an autoimmune disorder that can cause gradual paralysis that gets worse over time in the arms and legs.
6. Brain tumor
Paralysis that occurs gradually on one side of the body can be caused by a brain tumor. Symptoms that arise in addition to paralysis can include headaches, seizures, vomiting, difficulty speaking, difficulty swallowing, and psychological disorders. The appearance of symptoms in brain tumors depends on the type, location, and size of the tumor.
7. Guillain-Barré . Syndrome
Guillain-Barré syndrome is an autoimmune disease that can initially cause paralysis of both legs. This paralysis can then spread to the upper body gradually over days or weeks.
If not treated immediately, this disease can cause paralysis of the respiratory muscles which can be fatal.
8. Sleep paralysis
Temporary paralysis when starting to fall asleep or when you wake up is also known as sleep paralysis. This condition is known as overlap. In addition to paralysis, people who experience paralysis can also experience hallucinations.
In addition, there are also several conditions that can cause paralysis, namely the post-polio syndrome that occurs years after the onset of polio, cerebral palsy occurs due to birth defects, botulism caused by food poisoning.
How to Treat Paralysis
The diagnosis is made based on the history of the patient's symptoms. In addition, the doctor will also perform a physical examination and support, such as reflex tests, MRI, CT scans, blood tests, and nerve electrical conductivity tests. After the cause of the paralysis is known, then the paralysis will be treated.
In addition to treatment based on the cause, there are also several things that can be done to help people with paralysis, including:
- Use of assistive devices, such as a wheelchair, to assist with daily activities or mobility
- Physiotherapy, which is beneficial in increasing strength and muscle mass
- Occupational therapy, to help patients adjust their body condition to daily activities
- Doctor's prescription drugs, to reduce spasms, stiffness, and muscle aches that occur due to paralysis
Whatever the cause, paralysis is a condition that cannot be taken lightly because it can reduce the sufferer's quality of life. Therefore, if there are signs and symptoms that point to paralysis, immediately consult a doctor.
