Partial paralysis is an injury that results in the loss of function in one specific limb or muscle group. Distinguishing between partial paralysis and a diminished ability to use a group of muscles is not an easy task, and for someone who is suffering from loss of mobility due to a traumatic accident or injury, the definitions aren’t always important. People injured in accidents or hazardous situations that were caused by another person’s negligence have enough to be concerned about. Hiring an experienced Houston personal injury lawyer can let you focus on your health instead of worrying about your legal issues.

What Causes Partial Paralysis?

Nerve damage to the brain or spinal cord (the central nervous system) can cause partial paralysis, or the damage could be to the nerves outside the spinal column (the peripheral nervous system). Damage to the spinal cord usually results from trauma, such as falling or being involved in a car crash. The Mayo Clinic has identified the most common causes of injuries to the spinal cord; they include:

  • Motor vehicle accidents (40 percent)
  • Falls (25+ percent)
  • Acts of violence (15 percent)
  • Sports and recreational activities (8 percent).

Victims of partial paralysis can often move one limb more than others, or one side of the body more than the other. The person may also have the sensation that he or she might not be able to move a specific part of the body.

In addition to trauma to the spinal cord and central nervous system, stroke, illness, disease and poisoning can also cause partial paralysis. Some specific conditions and diseases that could result in partial paralysis include:

  • Tumors
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Metabolic disorders
  • Herniated (ruptured or slipped) disks on the spinal column
  • Spondylosis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Neurodegenerative disease
  • Compression or entrapment (such as carpal tunnel syndrome)
  • Guillain-Barré syndrome (a nervous disease that sometimes follows viral infection or immunization)
  • CIPD – a condition that causes pain and swelling in the protective layer around nerves
  • Radiation
  • Exposure to toxins or poisons.

Falls, vehicle accidents, sporting accidents and other forms of trauma could result in many of the above conditions, as could medical malpractice.

Symptoms of Partial Paralysis

Some indicators associated with partial paralysis include:

  • Numbness and tingling
  • Pain
  • Changes in vision
  • Difficulties with speech
  • Problems with balance.

Other symptoms of partial paralysis indicate specific injuries and offer clues to the site of nerve damage.

  • Hemiplegia, which affects one side of the body, is almost always caused by damage to the opposite side of the body.
  • Paraplegia occurs when the traumatic injury occurs to the lower part of the spinal cord.
  • Diplegia, which is paralysis affecting the same body region on both sides (both arms, for instance), can indicate brain damage.
  • Monoplegia, which affects only one limb, could indicate localized, specific trauma to a region of the spinal cord, brain or nervous system.

In addition to the physical effects of partial paralysis, it is important to consider the economic and social factors involved. Partial paralysis could impact your ability to socialize, to work and earn money, to have a healthy romantic life, and many other issues that go beyond the injury itself. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you get the compensation you deserve following a traumatic injury.

Contact Catastrophic Personal Injury Lawyer Kevin Krist Today

If you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic accident that resulted in partial paralysis in southeast Texas, including Houston, Harris County, Pasadena, Katy, Baytown, Sugar Land, Conroe and League City, contact Kevin Krist today for a free consultation about your case.

Simply call the Law Office of Kevin Krist at 713-284-1660 or use the firm’s online form. Let Kevin Krist tell you how he can put his personal, proven experience to work for you and your family. Kevin Krist represents personal injury victims on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no fees unless he recovers compensation on your claim.