|
Weakness may be generalized or localized to a part of the
limb, whole limb or more than one limb. The muscles, regional nerve,
spinal cord or brain may be involved.
In Myasthenia gravis, the patient complains of generalized
weakness and/or blurred vision due to weakness of the eye muscles. The
conditions can be effectively treated, unlike hereditary involvement of
the muscles (various myopathies) which show up later in life and has no
satisfactory treatment.
A regional nerve may be involved locally or at the exit from
the spinal cord, as happens in prolapsed discs. The part of the limb
supplied by the nerve is usually affected with numbness and/or pain. When
the whole limb or more is involved, usually the spinal cord or the brain
is at fault.
Causes may be toxins and diabetes. Surgically amenable
causes may be local entrapment of nerves, prolapsed discs, and tumors of
nerves and/or the spinal cord and brain disorders. Infections may require
surgery.
Trauma to the muscle, nerve, spinal cord or the brain is
another obvious cause and healing may be facilitated with immediate
medical attention. A thorough assessment by a neurologist will help.
|
