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Practice Areas > Catastrophic Injury > Paralysis
Paralysis
Florida Paralysis Lawyer
Paralysis is the complete loss of muscle function in one or more muscle groups. This injury may be caused by injuries that damage the nervous system, brain and spinal cord which may result in either paraplegia or quadriplegia. Paraplegia is the paralysis of the legs while quadriplegia is paralysis in both arms and both legs. The level of impairment resulting from a spinal cord injury will depend on which portion of the cord was injured. For the most part, areas of the body below the damaged point will be affected. For example, a mid-back injury may paralyze a person below the waist (paraplegia), while a neck injury may paralyze all four limbs, resulting in quadriplegia.
Paralysis may take place suddenly or occur gradually over an extended period of time. These are the most common causes of sudden-onset paralysis:
Spinal cord injury
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Head injury
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Neck or back trauma
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Stroke
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Brain blood vessel rupture
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Arterial blockage
The most common causes of sudden-onset paralysis are car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, slip or trip and fall accidents, violence, and sports injuries.
Paralysis may also take place gradually over time. In fact, many people may miss symptoms of paralysis because it occurs slowly. Some common causes of gradual-onset paralysis may include:
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Tumors
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Cerebral palsy
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Spina Bifida
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Multiple Sclerosis
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Muscular Dystrophy
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Lou Gehrig’s disease (motor neuron disease)
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Drug allergies or poisoning
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Diabetes
There are some treatments available for paralysis, although treatment is not as advanced as it may be for other injuries. The particular type of treatment that is used will be decided based on the cause of the injury. In some cases, the victim may be able to regain some or even all of their muscle control over a period of time. In fact, most stroke victims eventually regain partial mobility.
Some paralysis treatments can also manage specific symptoms. Paralysis sufferers may utilize relaxation and stress-release therapy to manage their injury. Physical therapy can help prevent muscle atrophy for the affected muscle and strengthen the unaffected parts of the body. Further, paralysis symptoms can also be treated by anti-spastic drugs. Doctors may also try other management techniques to help relieve the negative impact of the injury including new surgical options. Paralysis research is always taking place and medical advancements are being made every day.
Paralysis may occur as a result of auto accidents, truck accidents, medical malpractice, slip and fall accidents or sports injuries. If you or a loved one has suffered paralysis from an injury accident due to someone else’s negligence, Attorney Joseph C. McIntyre may be able to help you. We know that your family is suffering from the physical and emotional consequences of an injury resulting in paralysis. Please contact us at FloridaInjuryLawyer.com to find out what the law allows in collecting compensation from the responsible party.