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Jul 17, 2006
Temporary Paralysis
by SirGan
 Important thing to know is that paralysis is in fact the complete loss of muscle function for one or more muscle groups in human body. Temporary paralysis is just a simple paralysis that last a short time. This period of time can be a matter of minutes to months. Usually the term is used to describe paralysis that last a shorter period of time.There are several possible causes of paralysis and the major causes are stroke, trauma, poliomyelitis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, botulism, spina bifida, multiple sclerosis, and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Although, most people think that paralysis is caused by some muscle damage, the fact is that, in most cases, muscles are intact! Problem is in nerves! Paralysis is most often caused by damage to the nervous system or brain, especially the spinal cord. Beside these, motoric symptoms of paralysis, it also often includes some sensorial symptoms such as loss of feeling in the affected area. The most common type of temporary paralysis is when muscles do not get the blood flow they need such as when sitting or sleeping with an arm or leg in a position that restricts the blood flow. Important thing to know is that hysteria is a psychological disorder causing physical symptoms including paralysis. There are times that emotional trauma can cause temporary paralysis.
Some characteristics of paralysisAll paralysis may be divided into three big groups:
Common causes of paralysisThere are many possible causes of paralysis and the most common are:
StrokeA stroke or brain attack is also called cerebrovascular accident and it represent an acute neurological injury in which the blood supply to a part of the brain is interrupted by several possible factors.
Risk factors include:
PoliomyelitisPoliomyelitis, viral paralytic disease caused by a virus called poliovirus. This virus enters the body orally, infecting the intestinal wall but the main problem is that it may proceed to the blood stream and into the central nervous system causing muscle weakness and often paralysis. Problem is also that young children who contract polio may sometimes suffer only mild symptoms, which is good but in generally- could be big diagnostic problem! People who have survived polio sometimes develop additional symptoms, notably muscle weakness and extreme fatigue, decades after the primary infection! These symptoms are called post-polio syndrome.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosisAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis is one specific and very progressive, almost invariably fatal neurological disease. Experts have discovered that, in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, both the upper motor neurons and the lower motor neurons are affected and they degenerate or die. When this happen muscles are unable to function and they gradually weaken and waste away. Several studies have came to the data that more then 30,000 Americans have this disorder, and an estimated 5,000 cases of the disease are diagnosed in the United States per year.
BotulismNot too many people know what botulism really is. Well, it represents a rare but serious paralytic disease caused by a nerve toxin called botulin. This poison is being produced by the bacterium Clostridium Botulinum. This is very serious and potent toxin which is capable to block the nerve function and cause to respiratory and musculoskeletal paralysis.
There are three main kinds of botulism:
Spina bifidaSpina bifida is a term which means split or divided spine. It represents a birth defect caused by an incomplete closure of one or more vertebral parts of the spine, resulting in malformations of the spinal cord which fall into three categories:
Multiple sclerosisMost people already know that multiple sclerosis is one specific chronic, inflammatory disease that affects the central nervous system. Multiple sclerosis affects neurons and their cover called myelin causing various symptoms depending upon which signals are interrupted.
Guillain-Barré syndromeGuillain-Barré syndrome is one rare immune-mediated inflammatory disorder of the nervous system. The pathologic mechanism of the disease is loss of myelin in peripheral nerves due to an acute inflammation. The cause of this inflammation is unknown. It is suggested that it is an autoimmune disease, in which the sufferer's immune system is triggered into damaging the nerve covering.
Trauma to the spinal cordWhen a person suffers a spinal cord injury, generally the spinal nerves joining the cord below the level of injury will be either completely or partially cut off from the brain resulting in Quadriplegia (paralysis usually affects the cervical spinal nerves resulting in paralysis of all four limbs) or Paraplegia- complete paralysis of the legs and abdomen up to the nipple line. Nerves joining the spinal cord above the level of injury will be unaffected and continue to work as normal.
Periodic or temporary paralysisThere is also one specific group of paralyses called periodic or temporary! Periodic paralysis is a group of rare genetic diseases that lead to weakness or paralysis from common triggers such as cold, heat, high carbohydrate meals, not eating, stress or excitement and physical activity. The underlying mechanism of these diseases are malfunctions in the ion channels in skeletal muscle cell membranes that allow electrically charged ions to leak in or out of the muscle cell, causing the cell to depolarize and become unable to move.
Types of temporary paralysisPeriodic paralysis is an inherited myopathy with significant variation in symptomatology, leading to a spectrum of familial phenotypes. Specific diseases include:
Hypokalemic periodic paralysisHypokalemic periodic paralysis is characterized by a fall in potassium levels in the blood. Several researches have came to the data that this specific weakness may be mild and limited to certain muscle groups, or more severe and affect the arms and legs. Attacks may last for a few hours or persist for several days.
Hyperkalemic periodic paralysisHyperkalemic periodic paralysis is an inherited disorder which affects sodium channels in muscle cells and the ability to regulate potassium levels. What is so characteristic for this disease? Well, this inherited condition is characterized by uncontrollable muscle twitching and muscle weakness or paralysis.
Paramyotonia congenitaParamyotonia congenita is a rare congenital disorder which is characterized by a condition in which the muscles do not relax after contracting.
Andersen-Tawil syndromeAndersen-Tawil syndrome is a rare genetic disorder which affects the heart. Symptoms are a disruption in the rhythm of the heart's lower chambers in addition to the symptoms of long QT syndrome. Several researches done in the past have proven that these changes disrupt the flow of potassium ions in skeletal and cardiac muscle, leading to the periodic paralysis and irregular heart rhythm.
DiagnosisUnfortunately- this group of diseases is unusually difficult to diagnose and in most cases- patients often report numerous wrong diagnosis and treatments that made them worse instead of better.
It is proven that simple DNA testing is available for only a half dozen common gene mutations, while dozens of known mutations are possible but are not routinely tested.
Several studies done in the past have came to the conclusion that a properly performed Compound Muscle Amplitude Potential Test can provide an accurate diagnosis in better than 80% of cases.
TreatmentTreatment of the periodic paralyses usually includes:
PrognosisPrognosis can vary because the disability caused by paralysis can range from minor weakness to permanent muscle damage, inability to hold a normal job and use of a power chair. Good thing about these paralyses is that most people function fairly well with drugs and lifestyle changes.
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