PARALYSIS

TYPES OF PARALYSIS There paralysis in spinal injuries can be divided into 3. These are spastic, flaccid and combined spastic and flaccid. Spinal cord and cauda equina injury may affect power, sensation and the autonomic system with bladder involvement.

In complete spastic paralysis, there is no voluntary joint movement. On the other hand involuntary spastic movement is common, and stimulation of the foot or hand will usually evoke a withdrawal reflex. The muscles maintain their bulk, and the reflexes are increased. They may in fact be increased to the extent that they exhibit clonic contractions, and this is particularly common with the ankle. In flaccid paralysis on the other hand, the joints are 'floppy' and they also feel lax. In addition there is usually rapid wasting of paralysed muscles, and the reflexes are absent or markedly diminished. In autonomic involvement the bladder may either develop a spastic tone, the automatic bladder of an upper motor neurone spinal injury, or be flaccid, the lower motor neurone autonomous bladder. In the upper motor neurone spastic bladder, stimulation of the inside of the thigh or lower abdomen wil evoke a reflex and the bladder will empty completely. In the lower motor neurone flaccid bladder, the only method of emptying is by suprapubic pressure. The emptying is always incomplete, and as a result, infection of the bladder with cystitis, followed sometimes by ascending pyelitis and pyelonephritis is common. Paralysis Symptoms Symptom Checker: Symptoms & Signs Index Terms related to Paralysis: Palsy Paralysis is the loss or impairment of voluntary muscular power. Paralysis can result from either diseases involving changes in the makeup of nervous or muscular tissue or those that are the result of metabolic disturbances that interfere with the function of nerves or muscles. Depending upon the cause, paralysis may affect a specific muscle group or region of the body, or a larger area may be involved. When only one side of the body is affected, the condition is known as hemiplegia. In other instances, both sides of the body may suffer the effects, leading to diplegia or bilateral hemiplegia. When only the lower limbs are affected by paralysis, it is called paraplegia. When all four limbs are affected, it is referred to as quadriplegia. The term palsy is sometimes used to refer to the loss of muscle power in a body part. Main Articles on Paralysis (No articles currently available) Causes of Paralysis Alcoholism Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Birth Defects Botulism Cauda Equina Syndrome Cerebral Palsy Coxsackie Virus Drug Abuse Facial Nerve Problems and Bell's Palsy Guillain-Barre Syndrome Hyperkalemia (High Blood Potassium) Low Potassium (Hypokalemia) Meningitis Myasthenia Gravis Polio Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Snake Bites Spina Bifida and Anencephaly (Neural Tube Defects) Stroke West Nile Virus Other Causes of Paralysis Alternating Hemiplegia Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) Familial Periodic Paralysis Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia Medications Muscular Dystrophy Poisons/Toxins Thyrotoxicosis Tick Paralysis Todd's Paralysis Trauma Tumors Source:medicinenet.com Sleep Paralysis: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment 90 rate or flag this page By becauseilive Sufferers of sleep paralysis often feel there is an old hag, or witch, in the room tormenting them Links Sleep Paralysis Prevention Sleep Paralysis Sleep Paralysis Information Service One day last year I was taking a nap on the couch when I heard my mother come home from work. I woke up and saw her walk through the front door, and I tried to say hello to her. I was distirubed to find that I couldn't speak; my tongue was frozen in my mouth. I tried to move my body to get her attention, but I couldn't do that either. I was paralyzed. Panic quickly set in, and although I had been breathing perfectly normally up until then, I suddenly felt like my lungs were restricted. I closed my eyes and went back to sleep, only to have the same scenario repeat itself a few moments later when I thought I heard her moving around in the kitchen. I was desperate to get her attention so that she could help me, but once again I could not move, and I would drift back to sleep. After about four more rounds of this, my brother came home from school and that was when I woke up -- for real. That was when I realized that everything that had just happened hadn't been real. It was a freaky sensation, but I chalked it up to a bad dream...until it happened again a week later. Hoping that if perhaps I could understand what was happening, I could possibly change it, I did a Google search for "can't move while sleeping" and discovered the concept of sleep paralysis. Sleep paralysis is actually a fairly common condition characterized by either partial or total paralysis of muscles. It occurs upon awakening from sleep or falling asleep, although the latter is much less likely. The episodes generally last anywhere from seconds to minutes, and outside stimuli like touch or sound may terminate it. According to Wikipedia, sleep paralysis "it is closely related to the paralysis that occurs as a natural part of REM sleep, which is known as REM atonia. Sleep paralysis occurs when the brain awakes from a REM state, but the body paralysis persists. This leaves the person fully conscious, but unable to move. In addition, the state may be accompanied by terrifying hallucinations (hypnopompic or hypnagogic) and an acute sense of danger." Although I had never heard of sleep paralysis, this was clearly what I was experiencing. The same physiology that keeps up from acting out our dreams as we sleep was now keeping my body frozen as my mind was awake and aware. Most people experience severe panic symptoms during an episode, even as they know that their perceptions are false. After reading more on the subject, I decided I was one of the luckier ones. Many people also experience hallucinations during sleep paralysis. In particular, they see an old hag in the room, or feel a witch or demon sitting on their chest and laboring their breathing. Although I hallucinated my mother coming home from work and was greatly disturbed when I couldn't reach out to her, I have never had the sensation of something evil lurking. Symptoms Sleep paralysis entails one or both of the following: Paralysis: occurs after waking up or just before falling asleep. You cannot move any body part, aside from involuntary movements such as blinking and breathing. "This paralysis is the same paralysis that occurs when dreaming. The brain paralyzes the muscles to prevent possible injury during dreams, as some body parts may move during dreaming. If the person wakes up suddenly, the brain may still think that it is dreaming, and sustains the paralysis." (Source: wikipedia.org) Hallucinations: Images or sounds that appear during the episode. The sensation that someone is standing beside you or somewhere close by in the room. Strange sounds. Some people feel a heavy weight on their chest, as if they are being sat on. Causes Although there are several theories, the actual cause of sleep paralysis is still unknown. However, several factors have been identified that may increase the chances of having an episode: Sleeping in a face upwards or supine position Irregular sleeping schedules; naps, sleeping in, sleep deprivation Increased stress Sudden environmental/lifestyle changes A lucid dream that immediately precedes the episode. Treatment For those who suffer severe and persistent sleep paralysis, there are medications that may improve the condition. One option is to take 0.5mg of Clonazepam at bedtime. Ritalin has also been used as a daytime medication, the idea being that establishing healthy sleep patterns will reduce instances of sleep paralysis. In all my research, the only other suggestion I found was to try and move your facial muscles during an episode, as it may be easier to move these than your arms or legs. Not only will it give you a sense of control, but it may be enough to ease you into wakefulness. SOURCE:BECAUSELIVE.HUBPAGE.COM