Paralysis or multiple paralyses mostly refer to an inability to move various parts of the body, such as the arms and legs. This primarily involves paralysis of the muscles that allow the body’s motor skills to function.
What are paralyses?
The causes of paralysis are many and varied. However, the main causes are nerve inflammation, muscle inflammation, infections, and accidents. Paralysis and paralytic symptoms are called paralysis, peresis, or plegia, depending on the type. This almost always affects the muscles of the various regions of the body, which then no longer function normally due to paralysis. Thus, the movements, gestures and body mechanisms of the person are then no longer unconsciously or consciously controllable (e.g. walking, running, laughing). Paralysis can also occur suddenly, for example, when important motor organs or body parts fail due to a stroke, an accident, or idiopathic facial paresis. Diseases are also partly responsible for a rather slowly occurring and progressive paralysis. These include muscular dystrophies or polyneuropathies.
Causes
The causes of paralysis are many and varied. However, the main causes are nerve inflammation, muscle inflammation, infections, and accidents. However, congenital disorders of the muscles, such as muscular dystrophies and neurologic diseases, can also be identified as causes. Common to all causes, however, are disorders of the motor abilities of the muscles.
Diseases with this symptom
- Stroke
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- Brain tumor
- Arteriosclerosis
- Sciatic pain
- Lyme disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Ptosis
- Circulatory disorders
- Arterial occlusive disease
- Polio
- Herniated disc
- Guillain-Barré syndrome
- Botulism
- Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
Complications
Paralysis has a wide variety of complications, and it depends on the cause. For example, a stroke (apoplexy) can cause definite signs of paralysis. Depending on the localization of the stroke, characteristic symptoms appear. Thus, there may be typical failures of speech and thinking, or motor or sensory deficits. In some strokes, the affected person does not even notice anything, while most of them become dependent on care afterwards. In Parkinson’s disease, the disease can also lead to a need for care. An inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) can also cause paralysis. Complications include spread of the inflammation to other parts of the brain or water retention, resulting in cerebral edema, which causes nausea and dizziness. Further consequences of encephalitis usually occur late, these mainly concern a change in behavior and personality. Other infectious diseases such as Lyme disease or syphilis also affect the nervous system and paralysis occurs. Consequences of these diseases are life-threatening, severe damage to the nervous system. Multiple sclerosis can also show signs of paralysis as it progresses. The disease can lead to severe disabilities, as well as muscle weakness and a need for nursing care. Classic polio (poliomyelitis) causes life-threatening signs of paralysis, but occurs in only one in hundreds. Late complications after surviving infection can include weakness and muscle wasting.
When should you see a doctor?
In cases of paralysis, the question is not whether a doctor should be consulted. More important is the question of how soon the affected person must be presented to a doctor. The case is particularly serious in the case of left-sided paralysis of the body. If the affected person can only smile crookedly and cannot lift the left arm properly, it is very likely a stroke. Doctors can fully restore health in many cases if the sleep attack can be treated within minutes. The affected person must be immobilized and an ambulance must be called immediately. Paralysis of individual body parts, on the other hand, is often not a matter of minutes, but it cannot be left untreated. In the simplest cases, the doctor determines that a nerve has been pinched and the problem can be fixed fairly quickly. In the worst cases, something is pressing on the nerve and it needs to be found out what that is.A visit to the doctor is nevertheless necessary even for mild cases of paralysis and also when they first occur. However, most people will voluntarily go to the doctor for any type of paralysis, as it is very disturbing to no longer be able to move a body part as usual, and as they know that serious illnesses can also be behind it.
Treatment and therapy
If paralysis occurs suddenly and quickly, a doctor should be consulted immediately. Not infrequently, a serious illness is then behind the paralysis (e.g., stroke in the case of spontaneously occurring facial paralysis). The doctor will then want information about the circumstances, the time and the exact paralysis symptoms. Pre-existing conditions (such as diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis or arteriosclerosis) and medications taken should also be mentioned to the doctor. After that, the actual physical examination will begin. This examination usually includes a detailed analysis of the paralysis as well as the collection of blood. Neurological dysfunctions, which are often accompanied by a reduction in muscle strength, movement restrictions and abnormal reflexes, are also checked by the doctor. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), electromyography (EMG), electroneurography (ENG), muscle biopsy (muscle sampling) and other medical options may also be used to further diagnose and determine the cause of the paralysis. If necessary, the examination of an ophthalmologist or ear, nose and throat doctor is added to the further diagnostic palette. Once the final correct cause is found, an individualized treatment or therapy is initiated. Since the paralyses are mostly (about 80%) facial paralyses without an identifiable cause (facial paralysis or facial paresis), there is usually no need for further treatment, since these paralysis symptoms almost always resolve themselves within six weeks. If the paralysis occurs due to nerve inflammation, muscle inflammation or infection, antibiotics can be used to aid recovery in these cases. In the rare cases of brain tumors, which are also symptomatic with paralysis, chemotherapy, surgery or other radiation treatment is probably always necessary. However, if the cause of the paralysis is neurological, the paralytic symptoms have been almost impossible to reverse completely. So far, there are no definitive cures for the known nerve and muscle diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Only palliative measures of physiotherapy, massages, baths and electrical treatments can slow down the paralyses somewhat, because here the desolate areas are stimulated by additional blood circulation.
Outlook and prognosis
As a rule, no universal prognosis can be given for paralysis. Here, the further course of the disease depends greatly on the type and cause of the paralysis. In most cases, paralysis restricts the patient’s daily life relatively severely. For example, ordinary movements are no longer possible, and going to work may also be prevented by the paralysis. The quality of life decreases thereby very strongly and can lead also to depressions or other psychological problems. Often, in addition to the paralysis, there is also dizziness or a feeling of nausea. Inflammations in the brain are often responsible for this. Paralysis can also occur after a tick bite. In this case, immediate medical treatment is necessary to prevent severe damage to the nervous system. Treatment varies depending on the paralysis and does not always lead to success. Especially after strokes, paralysis may still remain and not completely resolve. The same is true for spinal cord injuries. If the paralyses are short-lived and not particularly severe, they can be treated relatively well, preventing the spread of paralysis.
Here’s what you can do yourself
As a rule, paralysis cannot be treated completely by self-help remedies. However, stress should always be avoided in cases of paralysis. If it is known that a stressful situation may occur, then more time must be scheduled for the patient. It is important for the affected person to move the joints and extremities continuously. Even if these are only passively moved, this can maintain the mobility of the muscle parts and is not completely restricted by the paralysis.Physiotherapy and occupational therapy can perform the necessary movements and lead to symptom relief. In some cases, the patient himself can also perform certain exercises. Even if these exercises bring little or no success at first, a strong will is necessary to fight the paralysis. The support of friends, family and one’s own partner is definitely necessary here. Often some exercises from physiotherapy can be done at home. Exercises that promote blood circulation are particularly suitable. A hot bath can stimulate circulation, as can electrical treatments or massages. In addition to physical treatment, the patient should also communicate with other people suffering from paralysis. This can strengthen the psyche.
