What Causes Paralyzation?

Paralysis is broadly characterized by the loss of muscle control, power and movement to one or more parts of the body. Nerve disease or injury is the most common reason for paralyzation and is directly caused by a wide range of problems. Generally, disease or damage in the upper motor nerve cells may result in spastic paralysis, such as in cerebral palsy, while problems in the lower motor nerve cells may result in flaccid paralysis.

Types

There are basically two types of paralysis under which most paralyzing disorders occur: localized and generalized. Localized paralysis means that the affliction is limited to one region or side of the body and includes the terms paraplegic or paraplegia. Generalized paralysis usually means that the problem exists over large parts of the body, or to the entire body, and includes the terms quadriplegic and quadriplegia.

Common Causes

There are two common causes of paralysis. The first is stroke and the second is trauma to the nervous system, brain, neck, back or spinal cord. If serious damage occurs in the lower spinal cord, it may lead to paralysis of both legs (paraplegia), but if the damage occurs in the higher spinal cord, closer to the neck, paralysis of all four limbs may occur (quadriplegia).

Disease and Poison

Besides stroke and trauma, there are medical conditions and diseases that cause some degree of paralysis. The best-known of these are cerebral palsy and Bell's palsy, which result in localized paralysis. Lesser-known conditions include Guillain-Barre syndrome, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, spina bifida and poliomyelitis. These conditions typically result in varying degrees of either localized or generalized paralysis. Botulism, paralytic shellfish poisoning, and other poisons that impact the nervous system can also cause paralysis.

Hemiplegia

Hemiplegia is a specific localized form of paralysis that affects one side of the body or the other (a hemisphere). The condition can either be present from birth or acquired at a later time. Hemiplegia is caused by an interruption or obstruction of blood flow to the brain, usually from a stroke or trauma. There are many types of hemiplegia, including facial, spastic, cerebral and spinal.

Temporary Paralysis

Sometimes, temporary paralysis occurs and is caused by an assortment of problems. Todd's paralysis is a temporary form that usually strikes following a seizure and can last as long as 48 hours. Familial periodic paralysis is another temporary form that's caused by an inherited nerve disorder. Alternating hemiplegia is a rare form of temporary paralysis that usually develops during the first four years of life and may sometimes strike concurrent to a seizure.