Question 1

What is Paralysis?

Accepted Answer

Paralysis is a condition in which a certain body part loses sensation and function. Paralysis is often a side effect of a stroke or cancerous tumour pressing against the brain or spinal cord. In most cases, paralysis is caused by serious injuries to the back of the brain.

Question 2

What is the life expectancy of a person suffering from quadriplegia?

Accepted Answer

The life expectancy of a patient with paralysis used to be 29 years, but this has increased to 42 years. Most patients are able to drive to work, using crutches and wheelchairs to resume their day-to-day activities.

Question 3

Can paralysis be prevented?

Accepted Answer

Paralysis caused in early childhood as a side effect of polio can be avoided by getting your baby vaccinated. That said, the other forms of paralysis are mostly a side effect of a reaction in the brain or spinal cord.

Question 4

What are the secondary effects of paralysis?

Accepted Answer

The secondary side effects of paralysis are depression, reduced sex drive, complications in conceiving, respiratory distress, muscle weakness, nerve damage, joint pains, inflammation in the skin, severe headaches, and chest pains.

Question 5

Is a person suffering from paralysis allowed to drive?

Accepted Answer

Yes, however, a doctor must be consulted before beginning to drive again. With advancements in technology, cars and motorcycles can now be modified to suit the needs of the specially-abled.

Question 6

What is the leading cause of a paralysis attack?

Accepted Answer

Paralysis is a loss of motor function in one or more muscles. There can be many causes for paralysis, but it is often caused by strokes, usually from a blocked artery in your neck or brain. Some other common causes are nerve injury, poliomyelitis, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, Parkinson's disease, spina bifida, peripheral neuropathy, ALS, botulism, and Guillain–Barré syndrome. It can also be caused by spinal cord or brain damage during/after a car accident or sports injury. Other causes of a paralysis attack are:

Alternating Hemiplegia
Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP)
Familial Periodic Paralysis
Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia
Medications
Muscular Dystrophy
Poisons/Toxins
Tick Paralysis
Todd's Paralysis
Trauma
Tumours

Question 7

What are the early signs of paralysis?

Accepted Answer

The symptoms of paralysis are usually easily identifiable. A tingling or numbing sensation occurs in the body part before complete paralysis sets in. You’ll gradually lose function in a specific or widespread area of your body if you are experiencing paralysis. Some of the early symptoms are:

Changes in mood, personality or behaviour
Clumsiness
Confusion or loss of consciousness for even a brief moment
Difficulty with memory, thinking, talking, comprehension, writing or reading
Drooling
Numbness
Constipation
Diarrhoea
Fever
Hearing loss
Loss of vision or changes in vision
Nausea with or without vomiting
Neck pain
Rash
Severe headache

Question 8

What are the 4 types of paralysis?

Accepted Answer

Types of Paralysis:

1) Complete paralysis is a condition in which you can't feel or move the paralysed part of your body.

2) Partial or incomplete paralysis is a condition when you have some control or feeling in the paralysed parts. This condition is also called paresis.

3) When just one specific body part, like hands or legs, is paralysed, it is termed as Localised paralysis.

4) Generalised paralysis is widespread throughout the body. This type of paralysis usually depends on which part of your brain or spinal cord is injured.

Question 9

Can you die from paralysis?

Accepted Answer

Being paralysed won’t kill you. However, it could lead to other medical conditions, like problems with your blood flow, breathing, and heart rate, changes in the normal functioning of organs, glands, and other tissues, changes in muscles, joints, and bones, skin injuries and pressure sores, blood clots in the legs, loss of urine and bowel control, sexual problems, problems speaking or swallowing; or behaviour and mood changes.

Question 10

How is paralysis diagnosed?

Accepted Answer

Identifying and diagnosing external paralysis is often easy, as there's a clear loss of movement and muscle function in a body part. For internal parts, which are difficult to detect, technologies like X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, and other imaging devices are used. The treatment plan depends on the underlying cause and symptoms of paralysis. The doctor might prescribe:

surgery or possible amputation
physical therapy
occupational therapy
mobility aids, such as wheelchairs, braces, mobile scooters, or other devices
medications, such as Botox or muscle relaxers, if you have spastic paralysis
In many cases, paralysis isn’t curable. But a healthcare team can recommend a variety of treatments, tools, and strategies to help manage symptoms.

Question 11

Is periodic paralysis hereditary?

Accepted Answer

Periodic paralysis is a genetic disorder that may pass to you from one of your parents. This disorder causes unexpected attacks of short-term muscle stiffness, weakness, numbness, or paralysis and often recovery is fast & complete.

Question 12

What are the types of periodic paralysis?

Accepted Answer

There are 4 main types of paralysis:

Hypokalaemic periodic paralysis (PP) - Low blood levels of potassium, strenuous exercise, foods with high amounts of sugar and starch, stress, cold temperatures, and certain medicines are the common causes of this form of periodic paralysis.

Hyperkalaemic periodic paralysis (PP) - High potassium levels in the blood, strenuous exercise, fasting, stress, cold, and consuming painkillers can cause this type of paralysis.

Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis (PP) - Elevated levels of thyroid hormones, exercise, high carbohydrate intake, and stress are the causes of this type of paralysis.

Andersen-Tawil syndrome - Fluctuating levels of potassium in the blood and exercise, stress, and intake of painkillers are the reasons for paralysis. On the other hand, people with PP disorder have a particular set of facial features like a broad forehead, low-set ears, a small chin, and widely spaced eyes.

Question 13

What are the paralysis symptoms?

Accepted Answer

Paralysis attack symptoms depend upon the type of paralysis you have. The signs of paralysis may occur in childhood or adulthood. In case you have a family history of paralysis causes or paralysis medicine, then be careful about the following symptoms.

Muscle cramping
Severe pain in muscles after minor exercise
Permanent weakness
Feeling tingles
Attacks of muscle weakness that stay longer