Paralysis
It is the loss of muscle function in part of your body. It happens when something goes wrong with the way messages pass between your brain and muscles. Paralysis can be complete or partial. It can occur on one or both sides of your body. It can also occur in just one area, or it can be widespread.
When, in any part of the human body, there is a loss of muscle function, it is called paralysis. This condition happens when something goes gravely wrong between the manner in which messages are passed by the brain and the muscles. Paralysis is usually of two kinds- partial or complete. Paralysis can affect either one or both sides of the human body. In some cases, just one area of your body gets affected, while in some other cases it can be widespread. When paralysis hits the lower half of the human body, such as both legs, it is referred to as paraplegia. When paralysis hits arms as well as legs, it is referred to as quadriplegia.
It is the loss of muscle function in part of your body. It happens when something goes wrong with the way messages pass between your brain and muscles. Paralysis can be complete or partial. It can occur on one or both sides of your body. It can also occur in just one area, or it can be widespread.
When, in any part of the human body, there is a loss of muscle function, it is called paralysis. This condition happens when something goes gravely wrong between the manner in which messages are passed by the brain and the muscles. Paralysis is usually of two kinds- partial or complete. Paralysis can affect either one or both sides of the human body. In some cases, just one area of your body gets affected, while in some other cases it can be widespread. When paralysis hits the lower half of the human body, such as both legs, it is referred to as paraplegia. When paralysis hits arms as well as legs, it is referred to as quadriplegia.
In the majority of cases, paralysis happens because of strokes or any kind of injury like an injury to the spinal cord or a broken neck. There can be other reasons for paralysis such as:
- Nerve diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- Autoimmune diseases like Guillain-Barre syndrome
- Bell's palsy in which muscles of the face get affected
What are the symptoms of paralysis?
The prime symptom of paralysis is the incapacity to move a part of your body, or failure to move the entire body. Paralysis can begin all of a sudden or gradually. In some cases it comes and goes.
Paralysis can have an effect on any given part of the body, such as:
- Face
- Hands
- When only one leg or arm is affected, it is called monoplegia
- When one side of the body is affected it is called hemiplegia
- If both the legs get affected, it is called paraplegia
- If both arms and legs are affected, it is known as quadriplegia or tetraplegia
- The part of the body which is affected can be:
- Stiff (this is spastic paralysis), with sporadic muscle spasms
- Floppy ( this is flaccid paralysis)
- Numb, sore or prickly
Paralysis causes major changes in overall functioning of the body. People lose their sense of taste, balance etc. Once any damage is caused, it is permanent, as the spinal cord cannot cure itself. There can be temporary relief of spasm and pain by using painkillers etc.
TREATMENT OF PARALYSIS
Physical therapy is used to treat paralysis usually. Treatments such as heat massage, physiotherapy and exercise are done to stimulate the nerves and muscles. Functional Electrical stimulation is used in some cases to offer help to the patient.Paralysis treatment in India has made long strides in terms of providing better healthcare, treatments and physiotherapy for paralysis. There still needs lot to be done to provide complete paralysis treatment, however, recent experiments conducted on rats and cats shows that damaged nerves can be repaired and severed spinal cord can also be regenerated, but it is a long way before such maneuvers can be tried in humans. So unless, a major breakthrough is announced in the paralysis treatment in India, sadly, there is little that can be done apart from a few cases where it is curable to a certain extent.
The varied types of paralysis have different treatment plans for instance, the onset of Poliomyelitis can be prevented through vaccination, and a large number of people with Guillian – Barre syndrome make recovery on their own. Sometimes Doctors even recommend Functional Electrical Stimulation to treat paralysis. In this treatment plan electrical impulses are used to stimulate the muscles to restore function.
Some of the things that can provide some relief to paralyzed people are as follows;
- Mobility Equipments – Mobility equipments like wheelchairs or braces offer a lot of relief to the paralyzed individuals.
- Physiotherapy for paralysis – Physiotherapy is crucial in the treatment of paralysis and help paralyzed people maintain the remaining muscle mass and strength.
- Occupational Therapy – Occupational therapy also forms a crucial part in the treatment of paralysis. The therapy makes the individual relearn everyday activities like dressing, cooking to better adjust them to the new changes.
Physiotherapy for Paralysis:
Physiotherapy for paralysis is one of the best treatment for paralysis, as it helps the patient to strengthen and maintain the muscle mass and also to make recovery to some extent. It also helps in blood circulation and relaxation of the muscles. It even helps in bringing down the inflammation in case of trauma and help in restricting the damage. It is highly advised that physical therapy be started as soon as possible after doctor’s consultation and under the watchful eyes of a trained physiotherapist. However, it should be noted that physical therapy can be time consuming and also a tad painful.
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