Paralysis

Types of Paralysis

Depending on the kind of damage, people can experience different types of paralysis. For example, certain birth injuries can cause infants to lose strength and feeling in one arm, called monoplegia. Hemiplegia can affect one arm and one leg on the same side of the body. Paraplegia can affect both legs, and quadriplegia (tetraplegia) can affect both arms and legs. Typically, the more paralysis you experience, the harder it is to cope with the condition. Someone with paralysis in both arms and legs, for example, will likely have a hard time performing the same job they used to, especially if they had a particularly active position (an athlete, for instance). Caring for yourself can also be extremely expensive. According to statistics, people with high tetraplegia can expect to pay about $1 million for care during the first year of their condition alone.