How to take care of a paralyzed patient at home?

Paralysis is one of the most unexpected medical emergencies that can target individuals from any age group all of a sudden. It is the loss of muscle functions of a body part, loss of sensation and is unable to move it properly. Paralysis often occurs when there is a disruption in the nerve cells chaining down from the brain to the back.

Types of Paralysis

1. Partial Paralysis – This is sometimes called paresis. Here, you still have control over your muscles.
2. Complete Paralysis – Here you have no control on your muscles.
3. Permanent Paralysis- You lose control of your muscles permanently and have no chance to return.
4. Temporary Paralysis – Though you lose all your muscle controls, there are chances of recovery.
5. Flaccid Paralysis – The affected muscle becomes flabby and shrinks.
6. Spastic Paralysis – The muscles here becomes tight and hard along with odd jerks.

Paralysis can either be localized that is focused on a particular part or generalized that is focusing on a wider area.  Depending on this, it can be classified as –

1. Monoplegia – Only your limbs are affected in case of monoplegia. For example, one arm.
2. Hemiplegia – One side of the body including the one leg and one arm is affected.
3. Diplegia – Both sides of the body are affected and the area of paralysis is the same. For example, both arms.
4. Paraplegia – Both the legs and sometimes part of the trunk is affected.
5. Quadriplegia – The entire area below the neck can be paralysed including both arms and legs. Along with this, any organ like heart, lungs are also affected.

What causes Paralysis?

Paralysis is caused when the relay system of your body gets disrupted, that is, the signals from the brain does not move effortlessly throughout the muscles. A few causes of paralysis are –

1. Spinal cord injury
2. Stroke
3. Multiple Sclerosis
4. Head Injury or Traumatic brain injury
5. Cerebral Palsy.
6. Peripheral neuropathy or Neurofibromatosis
7. Gullian-Barre Syndrome
8. Lou Gehrig’s disease
9. Toxins or poisons.
10. Birth defects

How to take care of a paralysed patient at home?

Home care is the best paralysis treatment yet preferred in medical science. This care must ensure a decent daily lifestyle without any obstacles. Here are some tips for you –

1. Physiotherapy – Physiotherapy is the most recommended treatment for paralysis. This treatment is effective in most of the cases. It helps the body to heal naturally with acupuncture techniques.
2. Family affection and care – This strengthens the mental health of a paralysed patient. It takes time for a family to accept the impaired physical condition of their loved ones. But remember, the love and care a family can give to a patient is always the best medicine.
3. Arrange home consultants – Find out some of the physiotherapy consultants, or any specialist in the field of paralysis treatment, who are okay with home care. They must regularly perform a check-up to keep records of the improvements.
4. Look for a nurse near me– If you are having a busy schedule and cannot give your entire day in taking care of the patient, it is better to search for home care nurses. Engaging a nurse near me is always a preferred option as they can put their services wholeheartedly and don’t need to worry about transportation facilities.

How does physiotherapy help in paralysis?

1. It improves the core steadiness along with sitting and standing equilibrium.
2. Increases your energy to perform more activities and helps in changing the walking patterns.
3. Improves sensation in the paralysed part and enhances coordination of the body parts.
4. Augments the muscle potency.

Your most beloved member may show behaviour and mood change along with different other symptoms of paralysis. But you need to stay calm and keep trying to bring back the original functioning of the organs.