Paralytic stroke

When something disrupts nerve signals to muscles, you may experience paralysis — being unable to make voluntary movements. Common causes of paralysis include strokes, spinal cord injuries and nerve disorders like multiple sclerosis. Bell’s palsy causes temporary facial paralysis. Paraplegia involves both legs, while quadriplegia affects all limbs. Overview What is paralysis? Paralysis occurs when you’re unable to make voluntary muscle movements. A nervous system problem causes paralysis. Uninjured nerves send signals to muscles. Those signals make muscles move. When you’re paralyzed, or have paralysis, you can’t move certain parts of your body. How common is paralysis? Approximately 1 in 50 Americans, or 5.4 million people, have some form of paralysis. What are the degrees of severity of paralysis? Some people experience temporary paralysis and regain partial or full movement over time. For example, Permanent paralysis means you never regain muscle control. The condition is irreversible. Paralysis can affect any part of the body. It can be: • Partial (paresis): You can control some muscles, but not all. • Complete: You have no control over any muscles. Paralysis can also be broken down into two types based on the site of injury in the nervous system: • Flaccid: Your muscles get flabby and shrink. • Spastic: The muscles tighten, causing uncontrollable jerks and spasms ( What are the patterns of muscle paralysis? Localized paralysis affects a small section of the body. It mo...

1From the 1Acute Stroke Programme, Department of Medicine and Clinical Geratology, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, Oxford, UK, 2Acute Stroke Programme, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK, 3Institute for Science and Technology in Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Keele University, Staffordshire, UK and 4Acute Vascular Imaging Centre, Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK Abstract The knowledge of brain syndromes is essential for stroke physicians and neurologists, particularly those that can be extremely difficult and challenging to diagnose due to the great variability of symptom presentation and yet of clinical significance in terms of potential devastating effect with poor outcome. The diagnosis and understanding of stroke syndromes has improved dramatically over the years with the advent of modern imaging, while the management is similar to general care as recommended by various guidelines in addition to care of such patients on specialized units with facilities for continuous monitoring of vital signs and dedicated stroke therapy. Such critical care can be provided either in the acute stroke unit, the medical intensive care unit or the neurological intensive care unit. There may be no definitive treatment at reversing stroke syndromes, but it is important to identify the signs and symptoms for an early diagnosis to prompt quick trea...

Diminished Sensation on the Left Side After a right-sided stroke, it is possible to have diminished sensation or loss of sensation on the left side of the body. Sometimes paresthesias (numbness, tingling, or other unusual sensations) or pain can develop in the areas of the body that have diminished sensation. This usually begins after weeks, months, or longer. Left Neglect One of the distressing characteristics of a right-sided stroke is deceased attention to the left side of the body or an inability to recognize the area of the body impacted by the stroke. As with other effects of a right-sided stroke, the severity of this problem can range from mild to severe. Neglect after a right-sided stroke can make it especially difficult to participate in physical therapy and other aspects of rehabilitation. Homonymous Hemianopia A right-sided stroke can cause loss of vision on the left side from both eyes. This can affect the whole left side, or only the upper or lower part of vision on the left side.This is called left • • Diet modification and medical treatment to achieve healthy cholesterol and triglyceride levels • Control of diabetes • Blood thinners if there is a high risk of blood clots • Treatment of heart problems, such as valve disease, coronary artery disease, and irregular heart rhythms • Smoking cessation Summary A stroke can have many different effects, depending on which side of the brain is affected. A right-sided stroke can cause left-sided weakness, left-sided se...

What are the effects of stroke? The effects of stroke vary from person to person based on the type, severity, location, and number of strokes. The brain is very complex. Each area of the brain is responsible for a specific function or ability. When an area of the brain is damaged from a stroke, the loss of normal function of part of the body may occur. This may result in a disability. The brain is divided into 3 main areas: • Cerebrum (right and left sides or hemispheres) • Cerebellum (top and front of the brain) • Brainstem (base of the brain) Depending on which of these regions of the brain the stroke occurs, the effects may be very different. What effects can be seen with a stroke in the cerebrum? The cerebrum is the part of the brain that occupies the top and front portions of the skull. It controls movement and sensation, speech, thinking, reasoning, memory, vision, and emotions. The cerebrum is divided into the right and left sides, or hemispheres. Depending on the area and side of the cerebrum affected by the stroke, any, or all, of these functions may be impaired: • Movement and sensation • Speech and language • Eating and swallowing • Vision • Cognitive (thinking, reasoning, judgment, and memory) ability • Perception and orientation to surroundings • Self-care ability • Bowel and bladder control • Emotional control • Sexual ability In addition to these general effects, some specific impairments may occur when a particular area of the cerebrum is damaged. Effects o...

What is arm care after a stroke? Many people who have a stroke are left with problems with one of their arms. Proper arm care after a stroke can help treat these problems. It can also help prevent new problems. Arm care after a stroke includes techniques such as proper positioning. A stroke happens when part of the brain is deprived of oxygen. This can happen if a blood vessel to the brain gets blocked (ischemic stroke), or if there is a bleed in your brain (hemorrhagic stroke). This causes some of the cells in your brain to die. Stroke often causes paralysis or weakness of one or more of the muscles in your arm or shoulder. The muscles might feel tight instead of weak (spasticity). In general, stroke might increase or decrease the muscle tone in these muscles. You may also have numbness or limited feeling in your arm. The shoulder is a key problem area after a stroke. The shoulder blade and the upper arm bone come together to form the shoulder joint. This joint is shaped like a ball and socket. Problems with the shoulder muscles can cause this joint to partly dislocate due to the weight of your arm. This partial separation makes your shoulder droop down. The partial separation can cause pain with movement and a sensation that your shoulder is out of joint. Muscles, tendons, and ligaments can become overstretched. These muscle problems can lead to other problems with your shoulder as well, such as reduced range of motion. Some of the muscles may also be permanently shorten...

A stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures and bleeds, or when there’s a blockage in the blood supply to the brain. The rupture or blockage prevents blood and oxygen from reaching the brain’s tissues. According to the Without oxygen, brain cells and tissue become damaged and begin to die within minutes. There are three primary types of strokes: • Transient ischemic attack (TIA) involves a blood clot that typically reverses on its own. • Ischemic stroke involves a blockage caused by either a clot or plaque in the artery. The symptoms and complications of ischemic stroke can last longer than those of a TIA, or may become permanent. • Hemorrhagic stroke is caused by either a burst or leaking blood vessel that seeps into the brain. The loss of blood flow to the brain damages tissues within the brain. Symptoms of a stroke show up in the body parts controlled by the damaged areas of the brain. The sooner a person having a stroke gets care, the better their outcome is likely to be. For this reason, it’s helpful to know the • • numbness or weakness in the arm, face, and leg, especially on one side of the body • trouble speaking or understanding others • slurred speech • confusion, disorientation, or lack of responsiveness • sudden behavioral changes, especially increased agitation • vision problems, such as trouble seeing in one or both eyes with vision blackened or blurred, or double vision • trouble walking • loss of balance or coordination • dizziness • severe, s...

Paralysis is not usually associated with pain, jerking, or tremors. After weeks or months, painful spasticity—abnormal muscle tightness—can develop in the paralyzed limb. Types of Paralysis Paralysis can include " paresis," which is a partial weakness of part of the body. Complete weakness of part of the body is called "plegia." • Hemiparesis or hemiplegia: Weakness of the face, arm, and/or leg on one side of the body • Paraplegia: Weakness below the waist, may include loss of bowel and bladder control • Quadriplegia: Weakness of all four limbs • Monoplegia: Weakness of one limb or part of one limb • Gastroparesis: Diminished movements of the digestive system, which can cause constipation or vomiting • Bell’s palsy: A type of facial paralysis, usually of one side of the face Causes of Paralysis Generally, paralysis or paresis of the face or the whole arm or leg will only involve one side of the body, and this is usually caused by a health condition affecting the brain or spinal cord. Often, paralysis or paresis of the foot or hand may involve both sides of the body, and it’s usually caused by a health condition affecting a nerve, like peripheral neuropathy. What Medications Cause Paralysis? In general, medications don’t usually cause paralysis as a side effect. Some medications used for surgical anesthesia are muscle paralytics that temporarily paralyze the muscles during surgery. The paralytic effects are temporary, and strength should return once the medication is stoppe...

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Every year in the United States, almost 800,000 people will suffer a stroke, which is 1 person every 40 seconds. And every year, 140,000 people will die from a stroke. While recovery is possible, many will live with a serious disability caused by the stroke, including lasting problems with mobility in their arms, hands, and legs. Researchers are now using neurotechnology to instantly give patients lost mobility back. Heather Rendulic was 22 years old when she had a series of 5 strokes. The fifth and final stroke was massive, leaving the left side of her body paralyzed. She was unable to use her left arm and hand, until she became the first person to enroll in a study at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. The study used electricity to reconnect her brain to the nerves in her arm. By implanting two thin neuro electrodes on top of the spinal cord, neurosurgeons reconnected the signals, which allowed the brain to communicate to her arm once again. Within minutes, Heather’s brain found ways to send impulses to her arm muscles. She says even at night when the device was turned off, her mobility continued to improve. The trial at UPMC lasted for four weeks. At the end of the trial, Rendulic’s implant was removed, and she says she will be the first in line to get the implant once it is FDA-approved. This type of technology is already FDA-approved to treat chronic pain. The next step in the research is to make it a device that won’t have to be remove...