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. Re-occuring temporary paralysis is known as periodic paralysis.

Paresis is severe muscle weakness without paralysis.

Prevalence

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.

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.

Symptom recognition

Paralysis is not described in the International Consensus Criteria Primer for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, but the ion transportation problems that can cause it are recognized.

Possible causes

• There are known ion channel dysfunctions (channelopathies) that can cause similar symptoms - eg Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis, Hypokalemic period paralysis, Hypokalemic sensory overstimulation.

Potential treatments

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

Hypokalemic sensory overstimulation - Wikipedia

See also

• Periodic paralysis
• Hypokalemic periodic paralysis
• Channelopathy
• Muscle fatigability
• Severe and very severe ME
• Paresis
• Sensory overload