Your Guide to Understanding Paralysis

Nearly 1 in 50 people in America deal with some form of paralysis. While it is most commonly associated with post-stroke or a spinal cord injury, there are many different causes of paralysis that uniquely affect a person and their mobility. We’ll cover what paralysis is, what can cause it, and what living with paralysis may look like. 

What is Paralysis?

Paralysis is clinically defined as a loss of strength or voluntary muscle control in the body when neural connections to the brain experience disruption. The nerve damage can permanently or temporarily paralyze an area of the body depending on the injury that occurred. Paralysis can be broken into two types: generalized where the immobility is widespread and localized where only one specific part of the body is affected. Symptoms of paralysis can vary greatly depending on what type it is and where it is located, but some shared symptoms include muscle weakness, spasms, and cramping.

What Causes Paralysis?

Paralysis can be caused by a variety of things—from different progressive diseases to injuries to genetics. The injury or the disease causing the paralysis will determine how severe it is, what area of the body is affected, and what type occurs. Just a few of the most common causes of paralysis include: 

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
• Brain Injury (BI)
• Cerebral Palsy
• Lyme Disease
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
• Muscular Dystrophy (MD)
• Spinal Tumors
• Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) 
• Stroke

There are many more causes than the ones listed above. If you’re interested in learning more about the different causes, download the full ebook below. 

Living with Paralysis

Paralysis does not dampen your potential—while paralysis does change life, that does not mean daily life can’t still be enjoyed. 

Employment and Income

Thanks to protections such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), you are protected from employment discrimination on the basis of your disability, so you can still work the job you love. However, you can also take advantage of other forms of income such as Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and private or state long-term disability insurance (LTD) if you so choose.

Romantic Relationships and Growing a Family

People with paralysis are also able to enjoy the benefits of intimacy and starting a family with the help of doctors and modern advancements. Talk to your doctor about any concerns you may have about sexual barriers due to your disability—they’ll be able to guide you on ways to enjoy intimacy in a safe yet pleasurable manner. 

If you find yourself struggling to deal with fertility issues, there are several treatments and options for people with paralysis to be able to start families with their partner, regardless of barriers that may be caused by their condition.

Exercise and Quality of Life

One of the best ways to improve your quality of life with paralysis is through exercise. Exercise may become more of a challenge with paralyzed limbs, but FES devices such as the MyoCycle can help overcome immobility. FES helps the paralyzed limbs move using electrical signals to move the muscles, improving their strength and blood circulation. Exercise also has the added bonus of improving mental health, reducing symptoms of paralysis such as muscle cramps and spasticity, and increasing independence and mobility.

Read Our Ebook to Learn More about Paralysis

Learning to live with paralysis can be a challenge, but with resources and knowledge, the challenge is made a little easier. We want to help provide this vital information to people with paralysis and their caregivers. If you’re interested in a more in-depth exploration of life with paralysis, download our free ebook resource by filling out the form below.