Paralysis
Paralysis in medical terms refers to the loss of muscle function and sensation in part or most of the body resulting from illness, injury, medication, or poison. It can be localized or generalized, partial or complete, and temporary or permanent.[1] Re-occuring temporary paralysis is known as periodic paralysis.
Paresis is severe muscle weakness without paralysis.
Presentation[edit | edit source]
Prevalence[edit | edit source]
In a 2001 Belgian study, 27.2% of patients meeting the Fukuda criteria and 33.2% of patients meeting the Holmes criteria, in a cohort of 2073 CFS patients, reported paralysis.[2]
A follow-up 45 years after the 1955 Royal Free Hospital outbreak of myalgic encephalomyelitis found that five patients had developed forms of partial paralysis.[3]
Symptom recognition[edit | edit source]
Paralysis is not described in the International Consensus Criteria Primer for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, but the ion transportation problems that can cause it are recognized.[4]
Notable studies[edit | edit source]
Possible causes[edit | edit source]
- There are known ion channel dysfunctions (channelopathies) that can cause similar symptoms - eg Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis, Hypokalemic period paralysis, Hypokalemic sensory overstimulation.
Potential treatments[edit | edit source]
Paralysis caused by ion channel problems often results from electrolyte imbalance, so should resolve when this is corrected. For example, hypokalemic periodic paralysis results from low levels of the electrolyte potassium, and can be resolved by taking potassium.
Learn more[edit | edit source]
Hypokalemic sensory overstimulation - Wikipedia
See also[edit | edit source]
- Periodic paralysis
- Hypokalemic periodic paralysis
- Channelopathy
- Muscle fatigability
- Severe and very severe ME
- Paresis
- Sensory overload
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ "Paralysis: Definition and Patient Education". Healthline. September 13, 2013. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
- ↑ De Becker, Pascale; McGregor, Neil; De Meirleir, Kenny (December 2001). "A definition‐based analysis of symptoms in a large cohort of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome". Journal of Internal Medicine. 250 (3): 234–240. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2796.2001.00890.x.
- ↑ Underhill, Rosemary; Baillod, Rosemarie (January 2021). "Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Organic Disease or Psychosomatic Illness? A Re-Examination of the Royal Free Epidemic of 1955". Medicina. 57 (1): 12. doi:10.3390/medicina57010012. PMC 7824095. PMID 33375343.
- ↑ Carruthers, BM; van de Sande, MI; De Meirleir, KL; Klimas, NG; Broderick, G; Mitchell, T; Staines, D; Powles, ACP; Speight, N; Vallings, R; Bateman, L; Bell, DS; Carlo-Stella, N; Chia, J; Darragh, A; Gerken, A; Jo, D; Lewis, DP; Light, AR; Light, KC; Marshall-Gradisnik, S; McLaren-Howard, J; Mena, I; Miwa, K; Murovska, M; Stevens, SR (2012), Myalgic encephalomyelitis: Adult & Paediatric: International Consensus Primer for Medical Practitioners (PDF), ISBN 978-0-9739335-3-6
