What Causes Temporary Paralysis?

Paralysis is the reduction or loss of voluntary motor function. It is a common symptom of the nervous system and is caused by nerves, neuromuscular junctions, or muscle diseases. Treatment should be directed at the primary cause of voluntary dyskinesia, and rehabilitation should be given at the same time.

Basic Information

Visiting department

Neurology

Common locations

Nerve, muscle

Common causes

Traumatic brain injury, tumor, inflammation, cerebrovascular disease, degeneration, poisoning, as well as diabetes, hematoporphyria, macrocytic anemia, and vitamin B12 deficiency, etc.

Common symptoms

Voluntary movement disorder

Causes of paralysis and common diseases

Cortical motor projection areas and upper motor neuron pathways, spinal cords, peripheral nerves, neuromuscular junctions, or motor muscles are damaged by lesions, which can cause paralysis. Common causes are craniocerebral trauma, tumors, inflammation, cerebrovascular disease, Degeneration, poisoning, and certain medical diseases, such as diabetes, hematoporphyria, macrocytic anemia, and vitamin B12 deficiency. Common in the following diseases:

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a fatal disease that can cause spastic or delayed paralysis of the main muscle groups of the body. Progressive paralysis. Early manifestations also include progressive muscle weakness, several beams of tremor, and muscle atrophy, often starting in the hands and upper limbs. Spasticity and hyperreflexia are more common. If the respiratory system is involved, dyspnea and respiratory depression may occur. Progressive cerebral palsy can cause difficulty in articulation, difficulty swallowing, drooling, suffocation, and difficulty chewing.

2.Bell paralysis

Bell's palsy is a transient, asymmetrical facial muscle palsy caused by the injury to the brain nerves of the first. The affected muscles atrophy and it is difficult to close the eyes. Other manifestations include tearfulness, drooling, and weakened or disappeared corneal reflexes.

3. Food poisoning

Bacteria and toxins can quickly cause progressive muscle weakness, and paralysis can occur 2 to 4 days after the use of contaminated food. Respiratory muscle paralysis can cause dyspnea and apnea. Early manifestations include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, blurred vision, unilateral dilated pupils, difficulty articulating ketones, and difficulty swallowing.

4. Brain abscess

Frontal or temporal lobe progressive brain abscess can cause hemiplegia, which can be accompanied by other manifestations in the later stages, such as visual impairment, bilateral pupil size, disturbance of consciousness, ataxia, temporal shock, and signs of infection.

5. Brain tumors

Frontal locomotor tumors can cause contralateral hemiplegia. Hemiplegia is progressive and can develop into persistent paralysis if left untreated. In the early stages, forehead headaches and movement abnormalities can be the only manifestations. Epilepsy, aphasia, and increased intracranial pressure (impaired consciousness and vomiting) can eventually occur.

6. Conversion barriers

Hysteria palsy is a typical manifestation of conversion disorder, which is characterized by loss of voluntary movement without a physical cause. Paralysis can affect multiple muscle groups, cause unpredictable motor abnormalities, and can be accompanied by performance (manipulation, drama, irrationality) or abnormal apathy.

7. Encephalitis

Different types of paralysis can occur in the late stage of encephalitis. Early symptoms and signs include rapid loss of consciousness (coma), fever, headache, photophobia, vomiting, meningeal irritation (positive neck stiffness, Kcrnig sign, and Brudzinski sign), aphasia, ataxia, ocular paralysis, myoclonus ,epilepsy.

8. Guillain-Barre syndrome

Guilanbary syndrome is characterized by rapidly developing irreversible progressive paralysis, which often begins with weakness in the lower limbs. Gradually progresses to symmetric paralysis. Sometimes it can damage the brain nerves, cause difficulty in swallowing, and difficulty in articulation. Respiratory muscle paralysis can be fatal. It can also cause transient sensory disturbances, orthostatic hypotension, tachycardia, sweating, and gastrointestinal and bladder dysfunction.

9. Head injury

Brain injury can cause paralysis, leading to cerebral edema, increased intracranial pressure, and sudden. Due to different injuries, its location and characteristics are also different. Other related manifestations include sensory disturbances, loss of sensation, headache, blurred or diplopia, nausea, vomiting, or local nerve damage.

10. Migraine

Migraine is a unilateral pulsating headache. Hypoparesis, dark spots, paresthesia, confusion, dizziness, photophobia, and other transient symptoms may appear at an early stage. The above symptoms can continue after the pain is reduced.

11. Multiple sclerosis

Paralysis may occur in late multiple sclerosis. Paralysis develops from monoplegia to quadriplegia, and then progresses to persistent paralysis. Most patients may develop vision or paresthesia (paresthesia) at an early stage, muscle weakness at a later stage, spasticity, hyperreflexia, intentional tremor, ataxia, difficulty swallowing, difficulty articulation, impotence, constipation, frequent urination, Urgency, urinary incontinence, etc.

12. Myasthenia gravis

Myasthenia gravis is characterized by muscle weakness and fatigue in some muscle groups, and even paralysis. It may be transient paralysis at an early stage, and may progress to continuous paralysis as the disease progresses. Other manifestations can vary depending on the affected neuromuscular, such as difficulty closing eyes, ptosis, diplopia, reduced facial movements, difficulty swallowing, nasal sounds, and nasal reflux. Neck muscle weakness can cause the jaw to sag. Respiratory system involvement can cause dyspnea, shallow breathing, and cyanosis.

13. Neurosyphilis

In the late stage of neurosyphilis, irreversible paralysis may occur, and in other advanced manifestations, dementia, cerebral nerve involvement, spasm and abnormal reflexes may also occur.

14. Parkinson's disease

Tremor, bradykinesia, or lead or gear-like rigidity are typical manifestations of Parkinson's disease. Excessive rigidity can progress to quadriplegia. Paralysis can improve after treatment.

15. Peripheral nerve damage

Moderate peripheral nerve damage can cause loss of motor and sensory function in innervated areas, muscle relaxation, atrophy, and disappearance of reflexes can occur. If the transection is incomplete, the paralysis is temporary.

16. Peripheral neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy can cause muscle weakness, leading to flaccid paralysis and muscle atrophy. Concomitant manifestations also include paresthesia, loss of vibration sensation, decreased or disappeared tendon reflexes, neuralgia, skin changes, such as anhidrosis.

17. Polio

Poliomyelitis can cause occult, persistent, delayed paralysis, and hyporeflexia. Sensory function can also be impaired, but it is mostly a loss of voluntary muscle control.

18. Spinal Cord Injury

Complete spinal cord transection can cause persistent spastic paralysis below the injury level, and abnormal reflexes can be improved after the spinal cord is restored. Some spinal cord transection injuries are different in paralysis and paresthesia due to different injury sites and degrees.

19. Spinal Tumor

Spinal tumors can cause paresis, pain, paresthesia, and loss of sensation in the innervated areas of the spinal cord. finally. Spastic paralysis can occur with hyperreflexia (reflexes in the cauda equina causing hyporeflexia) and urinary incontinence. Without treatment, paralysis can be persistent.

20. Stroke

Stroke (including cerebral infarction or cerebral hemorrhage) may involve contralateral paresis or hemiplegia involving the motor cortex. It is gradual at first, and paralysis can be temporary or persistent. Other accompanying symptoms and signs include headache, vomiting, cramps, disturbance of consciousness, decreased mental sensitivity, difficulty articulation, difficulty swallowing, contralateral paresthesia or loss of sensation, apraxia, loss of vision, visual impairment, emotional instability, Gastrointestinal and bladder dysfunction.

21. Subarachnoid hemorrhage

Subarachnoid hemorrhage is a potentially fatal disease that can cause sudden transient paralysis, which can be relieved as the edema subsides, and if combined with tissue damage, it can progress to persistent paralysis. Other acute manifestations include moderate headache, dilated pupils, photophobia, aphasia, loss of consciousness, stiff neck, vomiting, and convulsions.

22.Syringomyelia

Spinal cavity is a degenerative disease of the spinal cord, which can cause segmental paresis. It leads to lax paralysis of the extremities, disappearance of reflexes, loss of neck and shoulder and upper limb pain and temperature.

23. Thoracic aortic aneurysm

Thoracic aortic aneurysm rupture causes spinal artery injury, which can cause sudden transient bilateral paralysis. Severe chest pain, and radiated to the neck, chest, back and abdomen, the chest tear feeling is its obvious manifestation. Accompanied manifestations include syncope, pale complexion, sweating, dyspnea, tachycardia, cyanosis, diastolic heart murmur, sudden disappearance of radial or femoral pulses, and varying blood pressure in the limbs. The patient presented with shock. However, the systolic blood pressure was normal or increased.

Paralysis check

Necessary and selective laboratory tests include: blood routine, blood electrolytes, blood glucose, urea nitrogen.

The necessary selective auxiliary inspection items include:

1. Skull bottom radiography, CT and MRI.

2. Cerebrospinal fluid examination, electromyography.

3. Chest X-ray, ECG, ultrasound examination.

Differential diagnosis of paralysis

When determining paralysis, first of all, the restriction of movement caused by certain diseases should be ruled out, such as myotonia or bradykinesia caused by Parkinson's disease and other diseases, or being afraid to move due to limb pain. The disease must be localized to a specific level of the neuromuscular system according to the patient's symptoms and signs before the cause of myasthenia can be determined. Identification is helpful.

Paralysis Treatment Principles

According to the diagnosis of the cause, the primary disease leading to voluntary movement disorder is treated.

Paralyzed patients are prone to complications caused by long-term inactivity, so they should change their positions regularly for skin care and chest physical therapy. A certain range of motion can maintain muscle tension, the application of splints can prevent contractures, and foot pedals or other devices can prevent foot sagging. If the brain nerve is involved, the patient may have difficulty chewing or swallowing. Give a liquid or soft food, and prepare a sputum suction device to prevent aspiration. Patients with severe paralysis were given tube feeding or parenteral nutrition. People who are paralyzed with visual impairment are at risk of leaving the bed, so they can call for help when they are active. If necessary, rehabilitation training for physical function can be performed.