Paraplegia
Paraplegia is a type of paralysis that affects the lower half of the body. It occurs when an illness or injury impacts the part of the nervous system which controls the lower half of the body. You might have trouble moving your legs, feet, and stomach muscles. In some cases, this paraplegia will only affect one leg. This is called incomplete paraplegia.
Causes:
- Spinal cord injury: This is the most common cause of paraplegia. Spinal cord injuries can occur from accidents, falls, sports injuries, or violence.
- Diseases: Some diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, polio, spina bifida, and tumors, can damage the spinal cord and lead to paraplegia.
- Infections: Infections such as meningitis or encephalitis can damage the spinal cord and cause paraplegia.
- Vascular problems: Conditions that affect blood flow to the spinal cord, such as spinal cord infarction or spinal cord ischemia, can cause paraplegia.
- Congenital conditions: Some people are born with conditions that affect the development of the spinal cord, such as spina bifida.