Most people think that individuals who are paralyzed cannot move or control their bodily sensations. Everyone should make an effort to understand the condition because it can affect anyone. Paralysis occurs in many forms. Applying physical and nutritional therapy can change the extent to which an individual is immobilized. There are several causes of paralysis. Different factors often lead to various types of paralysis.
The Meaning of Paralysis
Paralysis is the permanent or temporary inability to move a body part. While most people may think that the condition is caused by an injury to a body part, that is not always the case. Paralysis occurs because of a nerve damage. A person who is injured in the lower spinal cord may be unable to move the lower limbs. This occurs even when the rest of the body is very healthy.
How Does Paralysis Affect the Body?
- Injuries to the brain may prevent it from relaying signals to other parts of the body.
- The brain may send signals but fail to acquire responses, from the targeted body parts, due to spinal cord injuries.
- A severe spinal cord injury may hinder the brain from sending or receiving signals.
Causes of Paralysis
According to scientists and doctors, stroke is the leading cause of paralysis. This is because it can injure the brain and prevent the spinal cord from transferring signals. Spinal cord injuries are second in the hierarchy. The third cause is multiple sclerosis. Other factors have recorded low percentages because they rarely contribute to the global cases of paralysis. Such include cerebral palsy, post-polio syndrome, traumatic brain injury, neurofibromatosis and birth defects.
Effects of Paralysis
Effects of paralysis often depend on its severity. The affected parts can also describe the underlying effects.
Direct Effects of Paralysis
- The condition can immobilize the legs, the arms and the trunk.
- Paralysis can appear unilaterally on the right or left side of the body.
- It can affect the sensory system that controls the lungs, glands, intestines and the heart.
- Paralysis that occurs due to brain damage, can affect speech, cognitive ability and behavior.
Indirect Effects of Paralysis
- Changes in bones, muscles and joints.
- Changes in the gastrointestinal system, including the kidneys.
- Spasticity of limbs.
- Pressure sores.
- Changes in the respiration and circulation systems.
- Skin injury
- Bacterial infection.
- Constipation.
- Abnormal sweating
- Difficult thinking
Types of Paralysis
There are multiple types of paralysis because the body can be subjected to different forms of injury. The main ones include monoplegia (one limb), hemiplegia (limbs on one side of the body), paraplegia (both legs) and quadriplegia (all limbs).
While stroke continues to be the leading cause of paralysis, personal injury also records a high percentage. The condition has changed the lives of many people. That is why you need a Wisconsin personal injury lawyer to advocate for your rights as an employee, a member of a specific group or a common citizen.