Symptoms and Treatment of Quadriplegia

9/26/08

Quadriplegia is a term that refers to when a person is injured at the spinal cord above the thoracic vertebra, causing paralysis of all four limbs. Not only are the arms and legs paralyzed, but the abdominal and chest muscles will be affected also. Breathing is restricted and those who are quadriplegic end up having a hard time talking.

Quadriplegia is also a form of cerebral palsy whereby all four limbs are affected. It is typically accompanied by more severe symptoms of nerve damage which cause problems with normal muscle movement.

Signs and Symptoms:

Most often, injuries of the spine that occur higher on the spinal cord produce more paralysis. While an injury to the lower part of your spine may affect only your lower body, damage to the higher regions might result in total paralysis and the need for a respirator to breathe.

Those with cerebral palsy will have a difficult time with fine motor tasks, such as writing, but may also have trouble with large tasks, such as maintaining balance. Those who have severe quadriplegia might also have problems with drooling.

Treatment

Quadriplegia treatment will be designed to address the needs of each patient and will typically depend on the severity of that person's condition. Quadriplegia treatment will typically address a patient's loss of feeling in certain areas of the body.

Meanwhile, treatment for spinal cord injuries focuses on stopping further energy and helping those with a spinal cord injury to lead a full and productive life.

For more information about quadriplegia or spinal cord injuries, visit these sites:

http://www.apparelyzed.com/
http://www.neurologychannel.com/spinalcordinjury/index.shtml
http://www.drugs.com/cg/quadriplegia.html