What is Paralysis? Let's talk about it simply.

Imagine waking up in the morning and suddenly feeling like you can't move your arm, or your leg, or maybe you're paralyzed. Or, God forbid, you lose feeling in a part of your body after an accident? This is a condition where you can't control your body's muscles the way you want, and that's what we call paralysis. It's a scary, life-changing thing to think about. But it's important to be aware of this condition, not just for ourselves but for our loved ones as well.

What exactly is paralysis?

Simply put, paralysis is the inability to control the muscles due to a problem in our nervous system. Imagine that our brain is like the boss of a company. The muscles are the employees who work in that company. This boss assigns tasks to the employees, that is, gives orders, through nerves that run like telephone wires. Now, if there is any damage to these wires (nerves), the employees do not receive the message given by the boss. That is how it is, when the signals coming from the brain do not reach the muscles, we cannot move that part of the body.

Paralysis can affect any part of the body. There are two main types:

• Partial Paralysis or Paresis: This is when you can control some muscles, but not others. This means you have some strength in your arm or leg, but it is difficult to control it completely.
• Complete Paralysis: In this case, you are unable to control any muscles in the affected body part. You are completely paralyzed.

It can also be divided into two other types depending on where the damage to the nervous system occurs:

• Flaccid Paralysis: In this condition, the muscles become weak and droopy, causing a feeling of weakness.
• Spastic Paralysis: This is when the muscles become stiff and twitch constantly. Our limbs twitch and jerk without our control. This is called spasticity.

What are the main types of paralysis?

Paralysis can be divided into several main types depending on the area of ​​the body affected. To understand this clearly, see the table below.

What are the symptoms before a stroke occurs?

Paralysis can occur in different ways. Paralysis can occur suddenly , such as in a stroke or a serious spinal injury. However, some medical conditions can cause paralysis gradually . When it occurs gradually, you may first experience symptoms like these:

• Gradually losing sensation and having difficulty controlling muscles.
• Frequent muscle cramps.
• Tingling in the limbs or feeling like your limbs are "burning" when you're just standing still for no reason.

Why does this condition called paralysis occur?

As we discussed earlier, the primary cause of this is damage to our nervous system. There are several main reasons why this damage can occur.

• Stroke and Spinal Cord Injuries: These are the two main and most common causes of paralysis. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain is blocked or bursts. Paralysis can also occur due to damage to the spinal cord, which can occur due to things like car accidents or falls from heights.
• Birth Defects: Some children may be born with these conditions, for example, conditions like spina bifida.
• Autoimmune Diseases: This is when our body's own defense system, the immune system, mistakenly attacks our own nerve cells. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Guillain-Barré syndrome are two major such diseases.
• Brain Injuries: Paralysis can also occur due to conditions such as traumatic brain injury or cerebral palsy.
• Other neurological diseases: This condition can also be caused by diseases that gradually weaken the nervous system. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is one such disease.

What other complications can occur due to paralysis?

Paralysis is not limited to the loss of a limb. It can affect many other processes in the body, especially the internal organs in the affected area.

• Difficulty breathing, cough, and lung infections such as pneumonia.
• Blood clots in the veins, especially in the deep veins of the legs (Deep Vein Thrombosis - DVT).
• Difficulty speaking or swallowing (dysphagia).
• Depression, which means depression and anxiety.
• Sexual dysfunction and other sexual problems.
• Excessively high blood pressure (autonomic dysreflexia) or low blood pressure (orthostatic hypotension) and heart disease.
• Inability to control urine and stool (incontinence).
• Injuries caused by staying in the same position for too long, such as pressure injuries or bedsores, can lead to serious infections such as sepsis.

How does a doctor accurately diagnose this as a stroke?

When you go to see a doctor, he or she will first examine you and ask about any injuries you have had or how your symptoms started. Then, they may recommend one or more tests to help determine the exact cause:

• X-ray tests: To see if bones have broken and nerves have been damaged.
• CT scan or MRI scan: These tests help to see things like brain or spinal cord injuries and strokes very clearly.
• Myelogram: An X-ray test that involves injecting a special dye into the spinal cord and nerves.
• Electromyogram (EMG): This measures the electrical activity of nerves and muscles. It can determine whether nerve messages are being transmitted properly.
• Spinal Tap or Lumbar Puncture: A sample of the cerebrospinal fluid inside the spine is taken and tested for infections and diseases such as MS.

How is it treated and managed?

The main goal of treating paralysis is to help the patient live as independently as possible and to improve their quality of life. Although there is no "cure" for permanent paralysis, proper management and rehabilitation can make a big difference.

Treatment options depend on the cause of the paralysis and how it affects you. They mainly include:

• Physical Therapy: Exercises and other treatments are used to improve muscle strength and function.
• Occupational Therapy: Introduces techniques and equipment to help you perform daily tasks (such as eating and dressing) independently.
• Speech Therapy: Treatment for speech or swallowing difficulties.
• Assistive Equipment: Things like wheelchairs, crutches, walkers.
• Adaptive Equipment: Special equipment designed to help people eat independently and drive vehicles.
• Orthotic/Prosthetic Devices: Devices such as braces that provide support to body parts.
• Voice-activated Technology: Technology that allows you to control things like computers, lights, and telephones with your voice.

Are there things we can do to prevent paralysis?

While not all causes can be prevented, there are many things we can do to prevent injuries to the spinal cord, which is the leading cause of paralysis.

• Always wear seat belts when riding in a vehicle. Always use designated car seats for small children.
• Before jumping into a river, ocean, or stream , check the depth of the water . Don't dive into unknown places.
• Do not drive drunk or travel with a drunk driver.
• Wear protective equipment when playing sports and other activities. For example, wear a helmet when riding a bike.
• This is very important: If you think someone has suffered a head, neck, or back injury, never try to move or lift them. Doing so can cause even a minor injury to become serious. Call 1990 immediately and get an ambulance.

When to seek immediate medical advice

In addition, see a doctor immediately if you have any of these symptoms:

• Difficulty breathing, swallowing, or speaking.
• Sudden numbness or loss of sensation in the limbs.
• Sudden muscle weakness.
• Sudden inability to move a part of the body.

Paralysis is a life-changing challenge. But with proper medical treatment, rehabilitation, assistive devices, and support from loved ones, many people can live active, independent lives. The most important thing is to stay mentally strong and not hesitate to get the support you need.

Paralysis, Paralysis, Loss of limb, Nervous system, Stroke, Spinal cord injury, Hemiplegia, Paraplegia, Quadriplegia, Rehabilitation