Paraplegia or Paralysis of lower body:
Paraplegia is the partial or complete paralysis of the lower half of the body with involvement in both legs. That’s usually due to injury or disease of the spinal cord in the thoracic or lumbar region. There is another thing known as Paraplegia spastic. It is a group of inherited disease in which weakness and stiffness of legs experience.
What is the difference between paraplegia and paralysis?
Paralysis is the complete or partial loss of function especially when involving the motion or sensation in a part of the body. So, that paralysis can affect many different areas of the body. Whereas paraplegia is more limited in extent, it can affect lower part of body including both legs.
So, paraplegia typically affects the T1 through l5 regions of the spinal cord. Moreover, it run vertically from the bottom of the cervical spinal cord at the base of the neck down to the top of the sacral nerves by the pelvis.
When paraplegia occurs communication between the brain and areas of the body below the injury site on the spinal cord may be limited or eliminated injury levels. So, this result in different motor function losses.
Paraplegia causes:
Causes of paraplegia are often similar to causes of quadriplegia they include:
- Automobile accidents falls
- Injury in sports and recreational activities
- Autoimmune disorders
- Genetic disorders
- Brain injuries
- Stroke
- Oxygen deprivation
- Tumor growths
- Muscular sclerosis
- Muscular dystrophy
Paraplegia sign and symptoms:
Paraplegia symptoms include:
- Changes in sexual function
- Loss of impediment of the bladder
- Bowel function
- Phantom pains or sensations
- Secondary infections
- Bed sores
- Chronic pain
When someone suffers a traumatic spinal cord injury then it causes paraplegia. So, the muscles in persons back core chest and in some cases legs may no longer function or be impeded. because paralysis may affect the muscles of the chest diaphragm and abdomen respiratory function may be affected. When the breathing muscles partially impeded, so it can result in difficult inhaling or exhaling.
Treatment for paraplegia:
As with any spinal cord injury early intervention and intensive treatments frequently result in the best chances of recovery. However it is important to note that every paraplegic patient is different and the type and level of treatment they require may be equally beneficial for another with spinal with a similar spinal cord injury.
Generally speaking intensive treatment and therapy gives you the best chance at recovery particularly when a person begins receiving treatment immediately after the injury. Some treatment options for paraplegia include:
- Surgery medications
- Physical therapy exercise (physiotherapy)
- Education occupational training
- Alternative modalities are also use such as massage , acupuncture and other holistic treatments
How long does it take to recover from paraplegia?
Recovery from paraplegia can be a long and difficult process. As paraplegics learn to cope with their symptoms there are numerous steps to recovering from paraplegia. So, these steps are depending on the cause and severity of the condition of person. However, recovery may look different for a complete paraplegic than an incomplete paraplegic.
Difference between the complete and incomplete paraplegia:
Incomplete paraplegia means that some sensations may be felt that person can be a functional paraplegic and a complete paraplegic has no function in their legs. Some steps to paraplegic recovery include:
- Immediate medical attention
- Timely care