Generalized paralysis is when a person loses the ability to control multiple parts of the body. Examples include being paralyzed in an arm and leg on the same side, paralysis in two of the same limbs, and full paralysis.
Learn about the main causes of generalized paralysis, how it can be diagnosed, and available treatment.
Causes of Generalized Paralysis
The main causes of paralysis include strokes, spinal cord injuries, and conditions like multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, among others.
Stroke
Strokes cut off blood to parts of the brain, which harms brain cells. Without these vital signals, muscles can’t move. In some cases, stroke victims do not recover their mobility, while others do, depending on the seriousness of the stroke.
Strokes can lead to generalized paralysis or localized paralysis, which is when a smaller area of the body is affected. For example, hemiplegia is when only one side of the body is paralyzed.
Recovery will depend on the stroke’s size and location, but in some cases, therapy can help.
Spinal Cord Injury
Spinal cord injuries can be devastating as well due to the disruption of the nerve paths. These paths carry brain signals to muscles, so a catastrophic injury like this essentially disconnects the brain from the muscles. Spinal cord damage can cause paraplegia or quadriplegia, which means that depending on the injury, the victim becomes paralyzed in both legs or all arms and legs, respectively.
Recovery is complicated for spinal cord injuries, and the damage is often permanent.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
MS is a condition that attacks the myelin sheath around nerves. This sheath helps signals travel through the body. MS slows or stops the signals from the brain to the body. Just as with the previous causes, the interruption of the signals can lead to generalized paralysis.
MS varies in how it affects people. For some, the symptoms are small enough to not require treatment, while others go through therapies that aim to slow down the progression of the disease. There is no known cure for multiple sclerosis.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
ALS is another condition that damages motor neurons in the brain and spine that control voluntary muscles. If ALS progresses in a person, it leads to total paralysis.
There is no cure for ALS currently, so treatment focuses on slowing its progress to prevent generalized paralysis as much as possible.
How Generalized Paralysis Is Diagnosed
Depending on the extent of the symptoms, a doctor might recommend one or multiple diagnostic tests to identify the cause of the generalized paralysis issues. These are the common ones:
Physical exam: Doctors often test muscle tone and reflexes to look for areas with no movement. This simple test is generally the first step in diagnosis since it can show signs of other conditions.
Patient history: Looking into a patient’s history of past injuries and diseases can also paint a clear picture of why a person might be experiencing certain symptoms of paralysis. This history will inform the doctors for future testing.
X-rays: Doctors use X-rays to identify fractures or dislocations that could be affecting the nerves. This method is employed when there is suspicion of a broken bone based on the patient’s history, or it can be used to rule out other possible causes of paralysis.
CT scan: This provides cross-sectional images that show details of bone, muscle, and nerve damage. The test can reveal the root cause of the paralysis.
MRI: This method gives doctors high-resolution images of the brain and spinal cord. Since these are the main body parts that relate to paralysis, it can be the most important test. It helps detect abnormalities in the brain and spine that could be leading to the paralysis symptoms.
Electromyography (EMG): For this method, doctors insert needles into the muscles and record electrical activity. When these electrical impulses don’t travel normally, it means there is a disconnect in the nerve-to-muscle signals.
Spinal tap: This diagnostic test checks for infections or conditions like MS that could cause paralysis. For this method, the doctor draws fluid from the spinal column and runs tests on it.
Treatment for Generalized Paralysis
Treatment for generalized paralysis mainly focuses on symptom management. This is because there is no cure for permanent paralysis or conditions like ALS and MS. Physical therapy can help in some cases to strengthen muscles that still work to a limited degree. Besides physical therapy and surgery, other types of therapy help people deal with their condition and adapt to their new lifestyle.
Adaptive equipment can assist people with generalized paralysis to regain a reasonable amount of independence. There are two main types of equipment that can help:
- Wheelchairs, scooters, and braces for mobility
- Assistive devices like voice-activated technology for tasks and communication
These tools can allow an individual to be more self-reliant despite the paralysis.
In the case of full paralysis, individuals will require assistance from healthcare professionals or family members.
Compensation for Generalized Paralysis
If a person gets paralyzed due to someone else’s negligence, they can seek compensation to cover the damages and the cost of future assistance. The victim must prove the third party caused the accident. This involves showing that the party had a duty of care and breached it, which led to the injury. Duty of care relates to the obligation people have to reasonably avoid the harm of others.
Compensation could include:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Reduced or eliminated future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Assistive equipment
A personal injury lawyer can help build and strengthen the case for just compensation. They gather evidence, negotiate with insurance companies, and represent the client in court if needed. However, personal injury cases are often settled between the parties without making it to court. Having a strong case is critical to obtaining compensation that covers all of the consequences of the accident in both the short and long terms.
