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Nervous System Disorders
Question #15431
45 days ago
108

cause of paralysis - #15431

Ishita

I am really worried about my brother. He's been having these weird episodes lately where he suddenly gets weak on one side and can’t move like his arm or leg at all, we thought it was just fatigue or something but then a few days ago it happened again but this time he slurred his words too. It scared the daylights outta me. He did see a doctor and they mentioned something about the cause of paralysis, but didn't really explain much. I mean, is it always serious?? Time is passing and we need answers. This cause of paralysis, could it be like a mini-stroke or something less severe like a pinched nerve? He’s only thirty-five and super active usually. We even thought he pulled something during basketball last week, but now I'm not sure if that could be connected at all? What else could be the cause of paralysis in someone that young? I feel like I'm just spiraling here, trying to piece it all together. Anyone experienced anything like this? Like how do you even start tackling the cause of paralysis? Just waiting for test results and it's killing me. Any thoughts would be super helpful, thank you!

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Doctors’ responses

Paralysis, particularly when it comes on suddenly and affects only one side of the body, absolutely could be serious and warrants prompt medical attention. Based on what you’ve described, there are a few conditions that might be considered. A transient ischemic attack (TIA), often referred to as a mini-stroke, is one possibility. TIAs can cause temporary paralysis and slurred speech similar to a stroke but typically resolve on their own. However, they’re still significant because they can be a warning sign for a future stroke. On the other hand, the symptoms your brother is experiencing could also be related to something like a complex migraine, which can cause stroke-like symptoms, or less commonly, a seizure disorder. Given his age and activity level, a pinched nerve or musculoskeletal issue is less likely to cause sudden paralysis and slurred speech, but shouldn’t be completely ruled out without further evaluation. The fact that this has happened more than once suggests that there could be an underlying condition triggering these episodes. It’s crucial that your brother follows up with a neurologist or his primary care physician for a thorough examination and possibly more tests like MRI, CT scan, or doppler ultrasound just to capture the full picture. Identifying risk factors such as uncontrolled hypertension, cholesterol, and family medical history, would be a prudent step too. In the meantime, monitoring for any more episodes and recognizing the symptoms are part of the critical management – if they appear again, seeking immediate medical assistance is essential. You mentioned he’s an active individual, so continue encouraging him to maintain a healthy lifestyle overall, but ensure these episodes are checked promptly by a specialist. They might recommend lifestyle adjustments or medication to prevent further occurrences. Keep a detailed symptom diary including times, duration, and any possible triggers, as this can be helpful for his medical team.

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