Overview

Paraplegia is lower body paralysis.  You lose feeling and control when nerve signals can’t travel up and down your spinal cord. This paralysis affects your legs, sometimes also affecting your trunk and pelvic organs.

Causes

Paraplegia happens when you injure your spinal cord or the nerves at the base of your cord.  Paraplegia is most often caused by traumatic injuries such as car crashes or falls.  Some nerve diseases, cancer, or spinal conditions can also cause paraplegia.

Symptoms

While you may experience pain or stinging sensations, paraplegia usually causes you to lose all feeling.  You normally cannot control your muscles to move your legs.  You may also lose control of your bladder and bowels.  Your sexual functions and fertility are often affected.  If your paraplegia is mild, you may have some feeling and very limited ability to move and control your legs and lower body organs.

Treatment

Sadly, there is no cure for this type of paralysis. You will need ongoing care and rehabilitation. You will learn new skills and new ways to do things so you can be as independent as possible. Your doctors may prescribe medications to help with your symptoms or bodily functions.