Have you ever heard the medical term hemiplegia? Hemiplegia is paralysis that occurs on one side of your body. Most paralysis is caused by a stroke or injury, such as a spinal cord injury or a broken neck.
Paralysis is a loss of muscle ability to move. Body movements are controlled by messages sent from the brain to the muscles to create movement. When a part of the brain is damaged due to certain conditions such as stroke, the delivery of messages from the brain to the muscles can be disrupted. And that's what makes it difficult for you to move part or all parts of the body.
These Causes and Symptoms of Hemiplegia
Paralysis or the inability of muscles to move is one of the most common disabilities due to stroke. As many as 9 out of 10 people who suffer a stroke, can suffer from paralysis to some degree after a stroke.
Usually, paralysis occurs on the opposite side of the body from the side of the brain damaged by a stroke. However, paralysis can also occur and affect any body part.
If paralysis occurs on one side that makes you unable to move, this condition is called hemiplegia. While weakness in some parts of the body but you can still move your body is called hemiparesis.
Some of the symptoms of hemiplegia include:
- Loss of control of the bladder.
- Difficulty speaking, swallowing, and also breathing.
- Stiffness and weakness in the muscles on one side of the body.
- Difficulty walking.
- Loss of body balance.
- Difficulty holding objects.
- Impaired coordination of movements.
Both hemiplegia or hemiparesis can occur in several parts of your body, such as your arms, hands, legs, and also your facial muscles. If you experience paralysis in some parts of your body, you will experience difficulties in carrying out daily activities, such as eating, dressing, and also in the bathroom.
The Importance of Handling and Early Treatment in Hemiplegia
If you experience weakness in your limbs, you may be able to regain your strengths and movements that were previously limited.
Various treatments can be used to help improve movement in the arms and legs that experience paralysis. Treatments include modified contraint-induced therapy mCIT (therapy to encourage the use of parts of the body that experience paralysis) and electrical stimulation that aims as treatments to increase sensory alertness, strengthen weakened body parts, and increase range of motion.
At least, it takes weeks, months, and years to achieve full recovery from the paralysis experienced. You are also advised to regularly do physical exercise and physiotherapy.
In addition, there are some things that you must do if you experience paralysis, for example:
- Stay active and use your muscles.
- Use flat shoes.
- Use assistive devices, such as walking sticks or walking aids recommended by doctors.
- Strengthen your leg muscles and balance through various exercises.
- Pay attention to your every step when walking.
- Ask someone else to help install a handrail on the wall of the house.
Having paralysis in one part of your body is a severe medical condition and you should not ignore it. If you experience hemiplegia or hemiparesis, this condition needs to be consulted by a doctor in order to be treated. Your doctor and other medical teams will help you plan treatments to maintain or improve the quality of your life.
The intervention of those closest to you in giving support and providing care for you is equally important. Even though it is difficult to move, staying enthusiastic and living a healthy lifestyle by actively exercising after hemiplegia can improve quality of life and prevent depression. With earlier treatment, the possibility of recovery will be even higher.
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