Paresis is a common form of paralysis. In the U.S., about 5.4 million people have a form of paralysis. This condition weakens muscle movement, mainly due to nerve damage.
What Is Monoparesis?
Monoparesis affects only one limb, which could be an arm or a leg. Unlike with paralysis, people with monoparesis can still have some level of control over the muscles that are affected.
Monoparesis is similar to monoplegia, but there are some things that make them different. Monoparesis refers to a partial loss of voluntary motor function. Monoplegia is the complete loss of this function in one limb.
Monoparesis may happen suddenly, similar to what happens with a stroke. The symptoms may also progress slowly. The condition may be related to cerebral palsy, which affects muscle response and movement.
What Causes Monoparesis?
Your body has an extensive and complicated system of nerves. Nerves are in charge of moving your body's muscles. They work to control both your voluntary and your involuntary movements. Damage to the nervous system disrupts the signaling activity to your muscles. The result is that the affected muscles become weak (paresis) or lose their full functionality (paralysis).
Damage to the nerves can have several causes.
Spinal cord injury. A spinal cord injury causes damage to nerves at the end of the spinal cord. This results in permanent changes in sensation, strength, and functioning of muscles below the injured site. Treatments and rehabilitation can help you to lead a productive and independent life.
Brain injury. A brain injury disrupts your normal body functions. This type of trauma may be due to any bump, bruise, or cut to any part of the head that affects the brain. Your brain is delicate. When an injury happens, there can be an increase in the amount of blood, inflammation, or fluid, which the brain cannot accommodate. This injury causes trauma to nearby tissues, and chemical changes may lead to chronic symptoms.
Stroke and cerebral palsy. A stroke happens when blood flow in the central nervous system is decreased. It may happen after a blood vessel is blocked, damaged, or ruptures. The nerve cells in the affected area within the central nervous system are not able to function normally. Swelling in the area may cause pressure to compress soft nerve tissues, leading to partial or complete paresis. Having a stroke is a high-risk factor for monoparesis.
Other causes of paresis include:
- Seizures
- Nerve inflammation or neuritis
- Pressure on the spinal cord nerves due to tumor or inflammation
- Multiple sclerosis
- Cerebral palsy
- Guillain-Barre syndrome
- Some infections like syphilis and Epstein-Barr virus
Research has shown that monoparesis may also happen because of a superficial blockage of blood supply to the affected muscle.
Treatment for Monoparesis
There isn’t a cure for paralysis, including monoparesis. Treating the underlying cause of the monoparesis is very important. There are, however, treatment options that may help to lessen your symptoms and improve the general quality of your life. These include:
Physical therapy. During physical therapy sessions, a trained therapist will evaluate the monoparesis and treat the abnormal physical function. The American Physical Therapy Association recommends that you only get therapy treatment from a trained and licensed medical expert. They will diagnose the physical problems and work towards restoring your physical function and mobility. They will also help you come up with a plan to maintain physical activities with the affected limb so that it stays functional.
Physical therapy may help you to manage the symptoms of monoparesis in the following ways:
- Improving pain management and reducing the need for opioids
- Improving your movement and mobility
- Helping to prevent falls
- Enhancing recovery from paralysis
- Improving your balance
- Enhancing recovery from injury or trauma
Occupational therapy. Through occupational therapy, your therapist will help you learn different techniques to make everyday life easier. These tasks include bathing, dressing, and cooking.
Assistive devices. There are several assistive devices you can use to make movement easier. Examples include specialized grips and handles, wheelchairs, walkers, and voice-activated devices.
Medications and surgery. Medications may improve the symptoms associated with monoparesis or monoplegia. Your doctor may recommend pain medications and muscle relaxants to help with any discomfort. In extreme cases, you may need surgery if the cause of the monoplegia is nerve compression or a tumor.
