Paralysis / Paraplegia / Quadriplegia

Fort Lauderdale Paralysis Attorneys

Losing the function and sensation of part of your body is something no one wants to experience. To be unable to hug a loved one, do any work that requires physical activity, or even do simple things like exercise or travel without assistance is something that people would consider their worst nightmare. Severe cases of paralysis can leave a person in a state of dependency, as they must be fed through feeding tubes and require assistance for even the simplest of tasks. We at Levine & Glassman understand how difficult this time must be for you, and we are committed to helping you in your time of need.

If paralysis has struck you or a loved one, legal representation from a lawyer experienced with paralysis cases is essential in determining your legal options. Obtaining sound advice from a legal professional is always a good plan of action, even if you don't know whether your paralysis was due to the negligent behavior of another. There are often factors at play in a case that aren't discovered until a case is thoroughly investigated, and having an attorney look over the details of your case can help you get fair compensation for your medical expenses, lost income and productivity, and pain and suffering.

Experienced Paralysis Representation in Florida

The attorneys at Levine & Glassman have spent years honing their skills in the courtroom and dealing with insurance companies, health care officials, and negligent individuals throughout personal injury and negligence lawsuits. We believe in an approach to legal representation that combines the three facets of experience, integrity, and resolve to ensure quick and effective resolutions for our clients. Let us put this approach to work for you. Call us today at (954) 332-6100 or use our contact form to schedule a free consultation directly with one of our attorneys and discuss your paralysis case in Southeast Florida, including Fort Lauderdale in Broward County, Miami in Miami-Dade County, and West Palm Beach in Palm Beach County.

Paralysis Information Center

• Paralysis Overview
• Types of Paralysis
• Causes of Paralysis
• How We Can Help
• Paralysis Resources

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Paralysis Overview

Strictly speaking, paralysis is the complete loss of muscle function in one or more muscles. This is opposed to paresis, which is used to refer to a partial loss of muscle function. Paralysis can be in either spastic or flaccid variations.

Spastic paralysis occurs when there is a loss of inhibition from the brain to the spinal cord that results in muscles becoming overactive. This decreases the ability for the patient to contract his or her own muscles and results in paralysis.

Flaccid paralysis, on the other hand, is the opposite of this effect. Rather than overactive contraction of the muscles due to uninhibited brain signals, there is a disconnect of some type in the neural pathways that control the muscles. Since there is no way for brain signals to reach the muscles and control them, the muscles are unable to move without external stimuli. This type of paralysis is the most common, and is generally caused by a nervous system injury of some type. Injuries of the spinal cord are particularly common causes for this type of paralysis.

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Types of Paralysis

Aside from the differences between spastic and flaccid paralysis, there are a number of different ways that a person can experience paralysis. Most of these different ways involve different levels of paralysis and different sets of muscles that are unable to be used. Some of the more common types include:

• Paraplegia - The complete loss of sensory or motor function of the lower extremities. This results in unusable legs, urinary or fecal incontinence, impotence, and often loss of pelvic function.

• Diplegia - Similar to paraplegia in that it affects symmetrical parts of the body. However, this can be anywhere on the body. For example, an individual suffering from facial diplegia may lose function of the muscles on both side of the face.

• Monoplegia - Paralysis of only one limb. This is often a very mild form of cerebral palsy. Usually, this type of paralysis affects an arm, though the term can also be used to describe a situation in which only one muscle group or even only one muscle is affected.

• Hemiplegia - A condition in which one entire half of the body loses function. This is often caused by a stroke, genetic disorder such as multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy, or by damage to the corticospinal tract on one side of the brain.

• Triplegia - The paralysis of three limbs. this is often thought of as an overlap of both diplegia and hemiplegia or as an incomplete form of quadriplegia. This condition is often a result of a stroke or a condition such as cerebral palsy.

• Quadriplegia / Tetraplegia - The complete loss of function in both arms and both legs. This form of paralysis is typically caused by injuries known as lesions in the higher parts of the spinal cord (disks C1 - C7 in particular).

• Cauda Equina Syndrome - A condition involving the cauda equina nerves at the end of the sacral region of the spinal cord that, if left untreated, can lead to complete paralysis due to nerve damage.

• Locked-In Syndrome / Pseudocoma - A condition in which an individual is completely paralyzed, but fully aware and awake. A patient with locked-in syndrome is unable to communicate other than through blinking, so they are often believed to be in a coma at first. This can be caused by traumatic brain injury, medication overdose, damage to nerve cells like the myelin sheath, or stroke.

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Causes of Paralysis

Paralysis can occur either suddenly or with a slow-onset. In either case, there is a wide variety of factors and conditions that can cause a person to become paralyzed. Some of the more common causes include:

• Stroke
• Head injury
• Spinal Cord Injury
• Cauda Equina Syndrome
• Transient ischemic attacks
• Hysteria
• Arterial blockage
• Subarachnoid hemorrhage
• Nerve compression / nerve entrapment
• Multiple sclerosis
• Guillain-Barre syndrome
• Vitamin B12 deficiencies
• Muscular dystrophy
• Motor neuron diseases / Lou Gehrig's Disease

Many of these causes are genetic or result of incidence that are unlikely to be caused by someone else. However, if the paralysis resulted from an injury that another person caused, you have the right to fight for compensation for your loss.

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Florida Paralysis Attorneys - Levine & Glassman - How We Can Help

The attorneys at Levine & Glassman understand that this is a troubling time for you and your family. We provide experienced and compassionate representation for individuals who have suffered from the negligent actions of another person. By following our three tenets of experience, integrity, and resolve, we serve our clients with highly valuable legal services that help them accomplish what they need to achieve in their lawsuit.

Contact us if you have a personal injury lawsuit in Southeast Florida, including the South Florida metropolitan area of Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and West Palm Beach. We also provide our services to the rest of the state of Florida and nationally, should a client need representation in those areas. Don't hesitate to seek our advice during your time of need; our line is open for your call. Call us at (954) 332-6100 or fill out our online case evaluation form to schedule a free consultation directly with one of our attorneys.

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Paralysis Resources

Christopher and Dane Reeve Foundation - Paralysis Resource Center - The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation is devoted to finding solution to spinal cord injuries and paralysis among patients nationwide. They have a large database of research on paralysis-related issues, including causes and rehabilitation for paralyzed individuals.

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke - This division of the National Institute of Health compiles information and resources on a variety of neurological disorders and has information on research programs currently in place for neurological disorders.