Paralysis/Paralysis Stroke
Paralysis is the inability of a muscle or group of muscles to move voluntarily. Muscles are controlled by messages sent from the brain that trigger movement. When part of the brain is damaged after a stroke, messaging between the brain and muscles may not work properly. Paralysis is usually on the side of the body opposite the side of the brain damaged by stroke, and may affect any part of the body. You may experience one-sided paralysis, known as hemiplegia, or one-sided weakness, known as hemiparesis. Locked-in syndrome is an example of severe paralysis that leaves the stroke survivor unable to move any muscles except those that control the eyes. Post-stroke paralysis symptoms may include but are not limited to:
- Hemiparesis
Hemiparesis is weakness on one side of the body. You can still move the affected side of your body, but with reduced muscular strength.
- Spasticity/stiff muscles
After a stroke, damage to the brain can block messages between muscles and the brain causing arm and leg muscles to cramp or spasm (spasticity), kind of like a bad charley horse. This will limit your coordination and muscle movement. This post-stroke condition makes daily activities such as bathing, eating and dressing more difficult.
- Dysphagia: trouble swallowing
Dysphagia is the medical term for difficulty swallowing or paralysis of the throat muscles. This condition can make eating, drinking, taking medicine, and breathing difficult. Many stroke survivors experience dysphagia or trouble swallowing at some point after a stroke. Difficulty swallowing is most common immediately after a stroke, but usually declines over time.
- Hemiplegia
Paralysis of one side of the body; usually caused by a brain lesion, such as a tumor, or by stroke syndrome.
- Foot drop
Foot drop, sometimes called “drop foot,” is the inability to lift the front part of the foot. While walking, if you have foot drop, you drag your toes along the ground, or bend your knees to lift your foot higher than usual to avoid the dragging. Foot drop may be temporary or permanent, and it can occur in one or both feet.
- Weakness
The patient might feel the affected part of the body is weak and may also feel numbness this is temporary or permanent depending in the severity of the stroke.
- Incoordination
Inco-ordination between the functioning of the body part is observed. This is due to the blockage of the nerves or improper blood supply to the brain.
- Sensory deficits
The patient loses senses from the affected part of the body again this is temporary or permanent depending on the severity.
- Balance problems
As half of the body is numb the patient faces body balancing problems, this can be solved with help of proper treatment. The formula for a successful stroke paralysis recovery is this: Neuroplasticity + hard work + time + hope = stroke paralysis recovery Neuroplasticity is the foundation of stroke recovery. Neuroplasticity is how your brain rewires itself after injury; and the process is initiated by repetitive movement. Stroke Paralysis Treatments Passive Rehab Exercise A passive movement occurs when someone helps move your paralyzed muscles. This is different from active movement where you move independently. Passive rehab exercise helps treat stroke paralysis by initiating the rewiring process in the brain. In most cases, survivors with paralysis will start with passive movement exercise and then move on to active exercise once the brain has recovered enough. If you have the help of another person, have them assist you during your exercises to help you complete the movements that you can’t make by yourself. It’s important to still attempt to make the movement yourself, even if you don’t feel like you can. If you don’t have the help of another person, use your unaffected muscles to help move your affected muscles. This works best with smaller muscle groups like fine motor skills. With enough time, patience, and practice, you can eventually regain enough movement to perform the exercises without assistance. Mental Practice Another effective treatment for stroke paralysis is mental practice: the process of visualizing yourself performing movement. This works because each time you visualize a movement, it triggers neuroplasticity the same way (to a lesser degree) that physical practice does. And when you combine mental practice with assisted physical practice, it works even better.
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