2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43
Limb paralysis
It is believed that paralysis of the limbs can manifest itself with a serious lesion of the spinal cord. In medicine, complete and partial paralysis of the limbs are distinguished. Complete paralysis occurs when the integrity of the brain located in the spinal canal is violated.
In this case, the weakness of the muscles of certain parts of the body is caused by a certain degree of damage to the spinal cord. When the integrity of the spinal cord is compromised at the site of the fourth cervical vertebra or higher, then paralysis of the respiratory system can develop and lead to death.
With paralysis of all limbs, paralysis is called tetraplegia, which makes itself felt in case of damage to the spinal cord at the level of the fourth, fifth and sixth cervical vertebra, although the patient manages to raise and bend his arms. When the back is affected by the brain at the location of the sixth and seventh cervical vertebrae, the paralysis affects the legs, hands and wrist joints. In this case, the patient can only bend his arms and move his shoulders.
With a typical transverse lesion of the spinal cord, paraplegia usually occurs at the level of the thoracic and lumbar vertebral regions, when both legs are paralyzed. Paralysis of the legs can develop both above and below the knees. It depends on the specific degree of damage to the important spinal cord. All cases of spinal cord injury, after which paralysis often develops, are characterized by partial or dangerous complete dysfunction of all sweat glands and loss of sensitivity of the paralyzed areas.
Distinguish between central and peripheral paralysis of the limbs. The central type of paralysis of the limbs is marked by brain damage, and this in turn disrupts the functioning of the limbs or completely paralyzes them. This type of disease can often occur after a stroke. Peripheral paralysis occurs when peripheral motor neurons are affected. It is characterized by areflexia, atony or hypotension, as well as the presence of atrophies.
Limb paralysis can occur with any disorder of the nervous system. Its occurrence can be due to many reasons, for example, infections, various injuries, lesions of the vascular system, as well as multiple sclerosis. According to statistics, paralysis of the limbs in most cases occurs due to an accident.
Other factors leading to paralysis of the limbs are various tumors that can infringe on the spinal cord, congenital painful conditions, and inflammation of the spinal cord. Often, paralysis of the limbs is caused by infectious diseases. A patient with meningitis, tuberculosis, viral encephalitis and poliomyelitis puts himself at risk of impaired motor function of the arms and legs.
When paralysis of the central type occurs, motor functions are greatly impaired throughout the human body. Sore muscles become tense but do not completely atrophy. The paralyzed side is characterized by the absence or decreased abdominal reflexes. When the function of peripheral motor neurons is impaired, individual muscles are affected. In this situation, in the affected area, reflexes are reduced, or completely disappear.
Symptoms of limb paralysis include significant muscle weakness and spastic paralysis in these muscles, loss of pain sensitivity, poor blood circulation, and involuntary emptying of the intestines and bladder.
How is limb paralysis treated?
In modern medicine, there have long been many different ways to effectively treat this dangerous ailment. For the treatment of central paralysis of the extremities, drugs are used to normalize cerebral circulation (cinnarizine, cavinton), as well as drugs that contain components that help return the affected brain cells (lipocerebrin, cerebrolysin). In addition, it is also necessary to take other medications that can significantly reduce the oxygen consumption of the brain.
In the treatment of peripheral paralysis, doctors place great emphasis on modern physiotherapy. Among physiotherapeutic methods, electrophoresis is distinguished, when a galvanic current is applied to the injured limb. In addition, when treating this type of paralysis, it is imperative to do massages and therapeutic exercises.
Also, a good result is given by special mud procedures and baths containing hydrogen sulfide and radon. Therapy for peripheral paralysis of the extremities includes the mandatory intake of B vitamins and aloe extract, as well as the vitreous body.
Psychological support also makes an invaluable contribution to the treatment of such patients, which, in combination with medical procedures, makes it possible to achieve a successful completion of the disease.
Article author: Mochalov Pavel Alexandrovich | d. m. n. therapist
Education: Moscow Medical Institute. IM Sechenov, specialty - "General Medicine" in 1991, in 1993 "Occupational Diseases", in 1996 "Therapy".
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