Help the development of the site, sharing the article with friends!
Paralysis (paralysis) is a situation in which the function of one, several muscles or a whole group of muscles is lost. This condition (especially if the extent of paralysis is extensive) can significantly impair the daily functioning of patients, and it can be caused by many different pathologies.
Paralysis( paralysis ) is the loss of the ability to move the muscles affected by this process.
A person deprived of proper muscle function cannot exist on his own - after all, even such an elementary process as gas exchange is also responsible for muscles, because it is the movement of the respiratory muscles that enables breathing.
Paralysis can be caused by many different factors, both a stroke suffered in the course of its life and congenital spina bifida may be responsible for its occurrence. The diagnosis of the basis of paralysis is important as it allows to select the appropriate treatment for a given patient - in some cases it will be rehabilitation, in others it is even possible to resolve the paralysis and return the patient to their former fitness.
Paralysis: causes
The cause of paralysis can be any disease that interferes with the transmission of impulses between nerve and muscle cells. In the course of paralysis, the signals from the nervous system that stimulate the muscles to work simply do not reach them.
Stroke is the most common cause of paralysis - according to statistics, in the United States, diseases from this group are responsible for nearly 30% of cases of this problem. The other most common causes of muscle dysfunction are spinal cord injuries and multiple sclerosis. Paralysis can be the result of many different diseases, in addition to those listed above, the problem also occurs in the course of:
- polio
- cerebral palsy
- peripheral neuropathy
- Parkinson's disease
- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- Spina bifida
- of the Guillain-Barre team
- poisoning (e.g. with snake venoms or resulting from exposure to other poisons, e.g. curare)
- head injuries
- neoplasms and neoplastic metastases to the nervous system (especially those located in the vicinity of motor centers and structuresbrain or spinal cord)
- Friedreich's ataxia
- borreliosis
Paralysis: symptoms
The dominant problem in the course of paralysis is impairment of the ability to perform motor activities. The patient may not be able to move at all using the given muscles (total paralysis) or may have a significantly limited ability to do so (partial paralysis). Paralysis is associated not only with movement disorders. A paralyzed patient may also have decreased feeling, some patients may experience tingling or a feeling of numbness. Other problems that can occur as a result of paralysis (especially if it affects the lower half of the body) are:
- urinary incontinence
- fecal incontinence
- sexual dysfunction (e.g. impotence)
Paralysis: types
The simplest division of palsy is whether they are local (for example, only the face or even its part, or one hand) or generalized. Paralysis can be permanent, irreversible, but also temporary - the latter is the case, for example, in the case of paralysis of the facial nerve. The paralysis also covers their range and for this reason it is distinguished by:
- monoplegia : paralysis of one limb
- hemiplegia : paralysis of the upper and lower limbs belonging to one side of the body
- paraplegia : paralysis of both lower limbs, possibly accompanied by paralysis of the pelvic area structures
- tetraplegię (akaquadriplegia ): quadriplegia
The next division is distinguished by:
- spastic paralysis : associated with damage to the structures governing motor activities within the central nervous system, with increased muscle tone, pathological reflexes, but no muscle atrophy,
- flaccid paralysis : results from damage to the nerves supplying impulses to the muscles, in flaccid paralysis the muscle tone is reduced, reflexes are abolished, and over time the patient develops muscle atrophy .
Paralysis: diagnostics
Paralysis is a symptom, the cause of which should definitely be identified. An example is the conditions associated with ischemia of the central nervous system: hemiplegia may be a manifestation of a minor stroke and resolve spontaneously (over time). If you experience this type of problem, you can get treatment to help prevent a more extensive stroke in the future.The basis for the diagnosis of paralysis is a medical examination - both subjective (medical history) and physical. In the case of the latter, the most important role is played by a neurological examination, during which, among others, reflexes, it is also checked whether the patient has sensory disturbances. Imaging tests, such as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), are of course used in the diagnosis of paralysis. A standard X-ray image is also helpful, as it, for example after an injury, may show the presence of fractures in the spine, which may result in a violation of the continuity of the spinal cord or pressure (e.g. bone fragments) on this structure. Complementary to the diagnostic process, electrophysiological tests such as electromyography (EMG) are used. Patients also undergo laboratory tests, their scope depends on the suspected etiology of paralysis (e.g. in the case of suspected Guillain-Barre syndrome, lumbar puncture is used, during which the cerebrospinal fluid is collected for assessments). spinal cord, it is possible to infer where the damage occurred on the basis of the symptoms presented by the patient:
- paralysis of all limbs with paralysis or impairment of respiratory muscle function - possibly an injury at the C1-C4 level of the spinal cord,
- paralysis of the lower limbs with the possibility of bending the elbows and (possibly) the ability to move the fingers of the hands - trauma at the C7 level of the spine,
- preserved function of the upper limbs with paralysis of the lower half of the body - spinal injury in the T2-T12 segment,
- impaired mobility of the lower limbs (movement disorders of the hips, knees and feet): trauma in the segment L1-L5.
Paralysis: treatment
The problem of paralysis, as noted earlier, is most often associated with strokes. Improvement of motor activity in patients with paralysis is possible through regular rehabilitation. In this case, good results can be obtained thanks to the phenomenon of the plasticity of the nervous system - under the influence of exercise, certain centers of the brain may acquire new functions, as a result of which the range of movements possible for the patient will increase. In a situation where a patient's paralysis is permanent, devices are available to improve his mobility, such as specialized wheelchairs or the so-called walking frames (the optimal type of device for the patient depends on the degree of his / her disability). It is very important to patients with drasticlimited mobility (related to e.g. tetraplegia), pay attention to the consequences of chronic immobilization. These include pressure ulcers, which, when they arise, are difficult to manage and tend to persist for a long time. In order to counteract this, one should remember about frequent changes in the position of a patient with paralysis, and special anti-bedsore mattresses also play a helpful role in the prevention of chronic wounds. As already mentioned, some paralysis is transient and it is relatively easy to lead to a resolution of the problem experienced by the patient - yes is, for example, in the case of Guillain-Barre syndrome, where the paralysis may subside after intravenous administration of immunoglobulins to the patient.