Hemiplegia: symptoms, causes, treatment, etc. & bull; hello healthy

Definition

What is hemiplegia?

Hemiplegia is a condition in which one side of the body is completely immobilized (paralyzed). This condition is classified as a problem in the nervous system with varying severity for each sufferer.

This condition can be caused by several things, including damage or problems in the brain control system. Generally, the location of the brain affected by this condition will determine the location of the side of the body that is experiencing paralysis.

If the left side of the brain is injured, it causes the right side of the body to experience paralysis. Conversely, if the injury or damage occurs in the right side of the brain, paralysis will attack the left side of the body.

Another term for hemiplegia is hemiparesis. Hemiparesis is a condition in which a person can still move the affected side of the body, but the muscle strength decreases. In hemiplegia, the sides cannot move at all.

Paralysis that occurs on one side can affect the arms, hands, feet and facial muscles. You can experience difficulty in activities such as eating, dressing, and even defecating.

Fortunately, treatments such as rehabilitation, exercise, and assistive devices can help restore and restore mobility to your body.

What are the types of hemiplegia?

Hemiplegia is a condition that can be divided into two types. Generally, the division of this type is based on when the patient started suffering from this condition:

1. Congenital hemiplegia

Congenital hemiplegia is a type of brain injury or damage that has occurred before the baby is born from the womb. In fact, brain damage can occur in the middle of labor, or after delivery (until the baby is around 2 years old).

2. Hemiplegia acquired

In this type, paralysis on one side of the body occurs at a time when the child is older. One condition or disease that can lead to paralysis is stroke.

How common is hemiplegia?

Hemiplegia is a very common type of health disorder. It is estimated that there are about 1 in 1,000 children who suffer from this condition. As many as 80% of cases are congenital, while the remaining 20% ​​are acquired (acquired).

This condition is relatively common and can occur in patients of any age. Fortunately, this condition can be treated and controlled by recognizing the risk factors that exist.

To find out more information regarding this condition, you can consult further with your doctor.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of hemiplegia?

Common symptoms of hemiplegia are:

• Losing balance
• Difficulty walking
• Difficulty swallowing
• Trouble speaking
• Numbness, tingling, loss of sensation on one side of the body
• Difficulty grasping objects
• Reduced movement precision
• Muscle fatigue
• Lack of coordination

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.

When should I see a doctor?

If you have any signs or symptoms above or any other questions, please consult your doctor.

Each sufferer's body shows signs and symptoms that vary. To get the most appropriate experience and according to your condition, always check the symptoms that appear to the doctor or the nearest health service center.

Cause

What causes hemiplegia?

The main causes of hemiplegia are cerebral hemorrhage (hemorrhagic stroke) and blood vessel disease of the cerebrum and brain stem which causes disruption of blood intake to the brain (stroke ischemia).

Another condition that can trigger hemiplegia is trauma or injury to the brain. Other, less acute causes are tumors or injury to the brain, brain abscess, disease that destroys nerve cell sheaths (multiple sclerosis), blood vessels, complications of viral or bacterial infection (meningitis) and inflammation of the brain (encephalitis).

If a brain lesion causes hemiplegia, the brain injury is usually on the opposite side of the brain from the side that is paralyzed. In rare cases, hemiplegia is caused by an infectious disease caused by poliovirus (poliomyelitis) or disorders of motor nerve cells (neurons) in the spinal cord, brain stem and motor cortex (motor system disease).

Risk factors

What increases my risk for hemiplegia?

Hemiplegia is a condition that can occur in almost anyone, regardless of age group or racial group. However, there are several factors that can increase a person's risk for developing this condition.

You need to know that having one or more risk factors does not mean that you will certainly suffer from a disease. It is possible that you can suffer from certain diseases without any risk factors.

The following are risk factors that trigger a person to experience this condition:

1. Age

Basically, hemiplegia is a condition that can be found at any age. However, in some cases, this condition is more often found in children.

2. Have a history of heart disease

If you have had a history of heart attack, heart failure, or an enlarged heart, your chances of experiencing partial paralysis of the body are much greater.

3. Have experienced trauma during childbirth

Trauma experienced after birth, difficulty removing the baby at delivery, and the appearance of a perinatal stroke in the baby within 3 days after birth can increase the risk of hemiplegia.

4. Experiencing problems or injuries to the brain

If you have had a brain problem or injury, such as a stroke, traumatic brain injury, or brain tumor, your chances of developing paralysis on one side of your body are much greater.

5. Suffering from infections, especially encephalitis and meningitis

Some types of disease caused by infection, such as encephalitis and meningitis, can increase the likelihood of paralysis. This can be worsened if the infection is serious enough, such as sepsis and abscesses in the neck.

6. Have diabetes

Diabetes or high blood sugar also contributes to triggering symptoms of paralysis. If you have this disease, your body is more prone to experiencing the symptoms of hemiplegia.

7. Suffering from high blood pressure (hypertension)

People with high blood pressure or hypertension also have a much greater chance of developing paralysis on one side of the body.

Complications

What are the complications caused by hemiplegia?

Since hemiplegia is a condition closely related to injury or trauma to the brain, it is not only the motor system or development that is in trouble.

Generally, people who are checked for this condition have other medical problems. Some of these include epilepsy, changes in behavior, or problems with vision.

1. Epilepsy

Epilepsy or seizures can occur when brain function and activity experience sudden disruption. As many as 20% of people who have hemiplegia will experience this condition.

2. Behavioral and emotional changes

This complication generally occurs most frequently in children and adolescents. An injury to the brain can affect several brain functions, so that a person's behavior and emotions can be disturbed.

Some of the signs and symptoms that appear are irritability, impulsivity, aggression, experiencing mood swing , even prone to depression.

3. Problematic vision

Apart from that, hemiplegia is a condition that can also affect vision. This is because human vision also relies on brain function. If there is a disturbance in brain function, this can affect the patient's ability to see.

Vision complications that may occur in people with hemiplegia are astigmatism (crossed eyes), myopia (farsightedness), hypermetropy (farsightedness), and difficulty moving the eyeballs.

Diagnosis & treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

How is hemiplegia diagnosed?

Hemiplegia is a condition that can be diagnosed with a thorough physical examination. The doctor will ask about your past or current medical history, as well as check your muscle strength during a physical and neurological exam.

The purpose of checking muscle strength is so that the doctor can identify where the damage is to the nervous system. In addition, the doctor may also perform several additional procedures.

The tests that may be done to diagnose the cause of hemiplegia are:

• Complete blood count
• Blood biochemical test
• Cranial computerized tomography (CT scan)
• Cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• EEG (electroencephalogram)

How is hemiplegia treated?

Hemiplegia is a condition that usually takes some time to completely heal. No one type of treatment works for everyone. Treatment depends largely on the cause of the paralysis. Some of the treatment options include:

1. Medicines

The doctor may order drugs that can lower blood pressure and cholesterol. This condition is intended for people who have suffered a stroke and who have risk factors for stroke recurrence, such as high blood pressure (hypertension) and heart disease.

In addition, blood thinners may also be prescribed by the doctor to reduce blockage of the blood vessels and the possibility of a subsequent stroke.

To help fight infections in the body, the doctor will also give antibiotics injections in certain cases. Injection botulinum toxin (Botox) may also be given to stimulate body muscle movement.

2. Physical therapy or physiotherapy

Physiotherapy aims to restore normal function and movement of both sides of the body. The physiotherapist will help the patient to balance the body, lift weights on the affected side of the body, and develop sensitivity on the side of the body that is paralyzed.

Physical therapy can also strengthen the side of the body that is not affected by hemiplegia and help reduce muscle loss.

3. Orthosis

Orthosis or ankle and foot orthoses (AFO) is a device that is placed on the body to balance the joints of the body, body movements, and reduce pain and the risk of falling or injury.

This device is attached to the feet and ankles, which can help the sufferer to walk and move in a better and balanced manner.

4. Psychotherapy

Psychological therapy or psychotherapy is needed so that sufferers get education about the disease they are suffering from, as well as moral support from the people closest to dealing with this disease.

5. Orthopedic surgery

If the above treatments do not show any changes, especially after the administration of botox injections, physiotherapy, and AFO, the doctor will recommend the patient to undergo a surgical procedure.

Surgery is expected to restore body function by modifying muscles or tendons, stretching the muscles of the body, stabilizing the joints of the body, and sometimes involving cutting or reorienting the bones (osteotomy).

Home remedies

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be done to treat hemiplegia?

Here are lifestyle and home remedies that can help you treat hemiplegia:

• Stay active
• Strengthen leg muscles and balance with exercise
• Wear flat shoes with a wide front
• Use assistive devices and do not lean on furniture for support while walking
• Be careful when using drugs that cause drowsiness
• Be careful when walking

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.