Paraplegia Definition

Definition

• Paraplegic, generally pertains to an individual suffering from the neurological disorder, paraplegia or paraparesis.
  
  Paraplegia, according to the "Genetics Home Reference" of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, is a "severe or complete loss of motor function in the lower extremities and lower portions of the trunk." In other words, paraplegia is a paralysis of the lower portions of your body, such as legs and feet.
  
  

Cause

• The usual cause of paraplegia, as stated in Disability Online, "is an injury or trauma to the lower part the spinal cord." The specific sites of the spinal cord that is affected in paraplegia are thoracic nerves one to eight (T1-T8).
  
  The events that may lead to spinal-cord injuries include sports, motor and household accidents. Furthermore, paraplegia may be caused by infectious, autoimmune and genetic disorders.
  
  

Symptoms

• The symptoms of paraplegia depend on the site of the spinal cord injury. The common symptoms, as posted in the Health Library of St. Joseph Medical Center, include "loss of muscle control, sensation in the lower extremities, bladder and bowel control, as well as sexual dysfunction."
  
  The symptoms occur variously---individually or in combination---the more severe the spinal cord injury, the more symptoms will occur simultaneously.
  
  

Diagnosis

• The diagnosis of paraplegia, according to Dr. Michael Rubin, professor of clinical neurology at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, is done by "excluding other disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, that cause similar symptoms." This is done through a series of medical tests such as computed tomography (CT) scanning, lumbar puncture and reflex response detection. Furthermore, inherited genetic factors are discerned through specific blood tests.
  
  

Treatments

• There are no silver bullets for treating paraplegia. However, several methods may be applied simultaneously to treat the complications caused by the paralysis. Among these treatments are physical therapy, speech therapy, strict drug regimen, therapeutic diets, supportive counseling and the use of assistive devices.
  
  Overall, the treatment for paraplegics requires intensive physical and psychological support from health experts and relatives alike.