Paralysis is the inability or complete loss of muscle function in the body. Loss of muscle function in itself does not cause paralysis. It is more of a disruption in the communication process between the muscles and the brain that causes paralysis. So paralysis is actually some form of nerve damage. Depending upon the cause paralysis can affects a specific group of muscles or region of the body.

Causes of paralysis
Statistics show 1 in 50 people globally have been diagnosed with some or the other kind of paralysis. Paralysis is mainly caused by the following conditions –
1. Stroke – Almost 30 percent of all paralyses are caused by stroke.

2. Spinal cord injury – It is the second largest cause of paralysis after stroke. Spinal cord injury may occur because of work place accidents, motor vehicle accidents, sports accident, falls, birth defects, being a victim of violence, natural disasters, and many other known and unknown causes.

3. Multiple Sclerosis – Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disorder of the central nervous system. Although MS does not always cause paralysis, most people affected with MS will need mobility aids such as wheelchairs or crutches because of fatigue, weakened muscles or balance problems.

4. Cerebral Palsy – In simple words, cerebral palsy is brain paralysis. It is neurodegenerative disorder that occurs as a result of abnormal development or damage to the parts of the brain that control movement. As the name suggests, paralysis is a characteristic symptom of the disorder.

5. Post-polio syndrome – It is a condition that affects survivors of polio. The syndrome can occur years after initial polio attack. Muscle weakness, fatigue, and paralysis is a common symptom of the syndrome. The cause is unknown but experts opine that the syndrome can occur because of fatigue of overworked nerve cells or brain damage due to virus or combination of both and other factors.

6. Neurofibromatosis – It is genetic disorder that causes tumours to grow around the nerves. Paralysis may occur if the nerves are damaged. Usually the tumours are benign but they may turn malignant and cause cancer.

7. Traumatic brain injury – It is a brain injury that occurs when the head suddenly and violently hits an object, for example a motorbike accident or victim of an assault causing injury to the brain and resulting in partial or permanent paralysis.

Symptoms of paralysis
What may look like obvious symptom of paralysis may actually not be paralysis. Numbness, weakness in muscles or muscle cramps may "feel" like paralysis but it is actually not so. It's only the complete loss of muscle function that is construed as paralysis. Paralysis may affect either one side of the body or both sides, upper limbs, or just the legs, sometimes the whole body is paralysed except for the eyes. Usually paralysis are occur along with some of the following symptoms –

Loss of consciousness (could be brief) or confusion, clumsiness and numbness, severe headache, difficulty breathing, drooling, cognitive difficulties,difficulty writing or speaking, changes in mood or behavior, Loss of bladder or bowel control, Loss or changes in vision and/ or hearing, etc.