The most prominently known types of paralysis are:

Monoplegia
Hemiplegia
Paraplegia
Quadriplegia
Locked-in syndrome

Monoplegia:

Monoplegia is a type of paralysis in which the person loses control over one limb. Often paralysis is limited to a single arm and can even be limited to certain muscles in an arm. Monoplegia is often the side effect of cerebral palsy. In cerebral palsy, the brain loses the ability to control certain muscles of the body. Infants and early adolescents are mostly affected by cerebral palsy.

Monoplegia is considered a good sign in the prognosis of this syndrome as the paralysis is limited to a single limb and the patient can still work around his daily activities with relative ease.

Hemiplegia:

Hemiplegia is a type of paralysis in which a person loses control of one side of the body. The effect may be limited to one arm and one limb. Sometimes the effect is also seen in the torso region. Hemiparesis is a condition in which the patient does not lose complete functionality of the limbs but their functionalities are significantly reduced in terms of strength and endurance. Hemiparesis evolves into hemiplegia in a few cases.

Hemiplegia is caused by injuries to the spinal cord or when the left and right sides of the brain stop communicating properly through the corpus callosum. Hemiplegia is also caused by a stroke, which affects the functioning of one side of the brain.

Hemiplegia is further divided into left and right hemiplegia, depending on the location of the damage.

Patients suffering from hemiplegia may find it difficult to speak and resume normal motor functions. They experience the total or partial loss of sensation in one side of the body, which leads to Pusher’s syndrome. In this, the patient shifts the weight of the paralysed side to the functioning side, which impedes motor functions.

The treatment options include an array of blood thinners, antibiotics, surgery, anti-inflammatory drugs and exercise.

Paraplegia:

Paraplegia is a form of paralysis in which the patient loses control over the muscles from the waist down. The effects of paraplegia vary from person to person. People with paraplegia have perfectly healthy legs and the underlying cause of this condition typically originates in the brain or spinal cord. Paraplegia can affect the complete body, although it sometimes affects only one leg. Partial paraplegia is often a result of consistent physiotherapy and medication.

Paraplegia is often caused by an injury to the brain, spinal cord or both. In paraplegic patients, the signals that are sent to the lower part of the body from the brain are not sent back up to the brain through the spinal cord. This lack of communication with the brain causes the patient to lose motor functions and sensation.

In a few cases, serious injuries to the leg, an allergic reaction or side effects of seizure can exhibit the form of paraplegia. It is advised to take several days before confirming the diagnosis of paraplegia. MRI, CT scans, blood tests, and myelography X-rays can be used to test for paraplegia.

In partial or incomplete paraplegia, the patient can retain the functionalities of a single leg, while in complete paraplegia, the patient loses sensation and functionalities of both legs. Car accidents, sports-related injuries, side effects of surgeries, spinal cord injuries, violence, and falls are the major causes of paraplegia.

This is also caused because of strokes, auto-immune diseases, genetic disorders, infections, tumours and disorders in the spinal cord.

Quadriplegia:

Quadriplegia is a form of paralysis in which all four limbs are affected. In this condition, the signals sent from the brain to the regions below the neck are not sent back, thereby impaling the hands and legs. The spinal cord sends signals to the brain and receives signals from it. In quadriplegia, this ceases to function, thereby causing the condition.

Injuries to the spinal cord or the brain can trigger the onset of quadriplegia. As the injuries to the affected area heal or when the inflammation in the brain decreases, the patient may recover from this condition. However, giving an accurate prognosis is not possible.

Patients suffering from quadriplegia experience fatigue, loss of sensation in the region below the neck, sudden spasms, difficulty in clearing urine from the body, respiratory distress, bedsores, and depression, among other side effects.

The treatment for quadriplegia includes surgeries in the spinal cord and brain, anti-inflammatory drugs, antiviral drugs, exercise, physiotherapy, psychotherapy, speaking and listening therapy, and participating in support groups.

Locked-in Syndrome:

Locked-in Syndrome is a form of paralysis in which the patient is unable to control any part of the body from under the eyes. Locked-in syndrome is a side-effect of a serious injury to the brain, a stroke or cancer in the brain. A person affected by locked-in syndrome cannot move his lips, jaws, neck or limbs. However, people suffering from locked-in syndrome can blink and move their eyeballs up and down.

Locked-in syndrome often mimics the symptoms of a coma, and doctors rely on the moment of the eyes to make a perfect diagnosis.

This disorder occurs when the middle part of the brain is injured/destroyed, but the cerebrum and cerebellum, the parts of the brain that control consciousness and mental function, are left undamaged.

Good nutrition is essential. However, the patient needs to be fed through a stomach tube that sends food from the nose or through an incision in the small intestines to send food directly.

Prolonged bed rest can cause pressure sores, blood clots, muscle damage and nerve damage. Care should be taken to prevent pressure sores by moving the patient, massaging the muscles, moving the joints along its axis, and physiotherapy.

Paralysis