Posted in Personal Injury on November 26, 2021
There are various types of paralysis that can occur. Paralysis can be generalized or localized, temporary or permanent, and partial or complete. A person can experience paralysis along any area of their body for a variety of reasons. Here, we want to more thoroughly examine the types of paralysis individuals can incur.
Various Types of Paralysis
When discussing the types of paralysis that person may experience, we have to understand that this will depend heavily on what originally caused the paralysis as well as the severity of the initial incident that caused the paralysis.
Monoplegia
This refers to any type of paralysis that occurs in a single part of someone’s body. When a person has monoplegia, they will typically have full functioning of every non affected limb but not be able to move or feel the affected limb. Monoplegia is often caused by strokes, traumatic brain injuries, or cerebral palsy. Monoplegia is not always permanent, and individuals may be able to recover the use of the affected limb over time.
Hemiplegia
This type of paralysis typically occurs along one half of a person’s body and will affect the arm and leg on that particular side. The term “hemi” actually means half. Hemiplegia is not necessarily a permanent condition, and the intensity of this type of paralysis depends heavily on what caused the hemiplegia to begin with.
Paraplegia
This type of paralysis refers to a person experiencing the loss of movement and sensation from the waist down. Usually, when a person is paraplegic, they have lost control of both legs and their hips. Paraplegic victims may also suffer from bowel or bladder control issues as well as sexual dysfunction. This type of injury is regularly caused by spinal cord trauma that inhibits the brain’s ability to send and receive signals to lower portions of the body.
Quadriplegia
This is the most severe form of paralysis that can affect a person and typically results in paralysis from the neck down. The term “quad” refers to four, which means that individuals typically lose control of every limb and their torso. The severity of quadriplegia will vary from incident to incident, but this type of paralysis typically occurs as a result of a spinal cord injury to the upper neck, usually in the cervical spine.
What Causes Paralysis?
Paralysis can have a variety of causes. Information from the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC) shows that nearly 18,000 individuals sustain spinal cord injuries caused by traumatic incidents each year. The leading causes of these incidents include vehicle accidents, falls, violence, sports injuries, and medical mistakes. Paralysis can also occur as a result of birth injuries, strokes, drug overdoses, allergic reactions, and more.
Reach Out to an Attorney
If you or somebody you love is suffering from paralysis caused by the actions of another individual, seek help from a spinal cord injury attorney immediately. A skilled lawyer can use their resources to thoroughly investigate the cause of your paralysis, determine liability, and work to recover full compensation for your losses.