What New Caretakers Should Know About Paralysis

Individuals who take on the role of being caretakers are wonderful, caring people. When a caretaker agrees to take care of their family member or loved one who has paralysis, they are signing up for challenging and difficult days ahead.

However, most caretakers believe that it is worth it to ensure that their family member or loved one is taken care of when suffering such a traumatic personal injury. When deciding to become a caretaker for someone with paralysis, it is important to know what this new duty may consist of. Here are seven things that new caretakers should know when it comes to paralysis.

1.     Paralysis is a very challenging condition to live with.

Paralysis is a condition in which a person loses muscle functioning. This condition may occur for various reasons, and it can be either permanent or temporary. In addition, there are different types of paralysis, which are hemiplegia (paralysis only on one side), quadriplegia or tetraplegia (paralysis in all four limbs), paraplegia (paralysis in the legs), and paresis (paralysis that makes individuals very weak).

People who have paralysis often experience various challenges. They usually are unable to take care of themselves and live independently like they did before they became paralyzed. As a result, they are not only overwhelmed with relearning how to carry out their tasks, but they can also become very depressed and frustrated at the thought of their life being different than before. If you are a caregiver for a person with paralysis, you are likely their support system, companionship, and shoulder to lean on during this difficult time.

2.     Adjusting to paralysis can take a long time.

Even though you know that your family member or loved one is paralyzed, it can still take them a long time to adjust to this diagnosis. In fact, it is common for individuals with paralysis to shut down emotionally, or enter into a phase of denial, for several days or weeks after being diagnosed with paralysis. As a caretaker, you should expect your family member or loved one to go through a whirlwind of emotions before they finally accept that they have paralysis. All you can do during this tough time is support them and guide them through the process as best as you can.

3.     Paralysis can affect the entire family.

Even though only one individual is paralyzed, this condition affects the entire family. If the paralyzed individual has a spouse or children, everyone is impacted in some way by this condition. For example, the individual can no longer work and bring in the income and benefits that they were before the accident. They also may no longer be able to contribute to daily tasks around the house, such as cooking, cleaning, watering the flowers, taking out the trash, and more.

In addition, family members may need to stay with the paralyzed individual, taking care of them and ensuring that their needs are met throughout the day. This is a very demanding job that most spouses, children, and other family members never sign up for; it is just placed on them when an accident or medical condition occurs.

4.     Paralysis leads to other serious medical conditions.

When an individual has paralysis and stops moving and using certain muscles or body parts, they become at risk for other conditions and complications. You will need to keep an eye out for certain conditions that may arise as a result of your loved one’s paralysis. These conditions include pneumonia, bedsores, kidney and bladder infections, blood pressure problems, breathing issues, and more.

5.     People with paralysis must follow a specific diet plan.

Most people do not realize that individuals with paralysis must follow a specific diet plan for the rest of their lives. The reason for this is because a special diet plan will help prevent certain complications from occurring. As a result, the individual must eat specific nutrients and vitamins to ensure that their health is taken care of. Paralysis patients are typically required to eat a diet that consists of high fiber, lean protein, pre and probiotics, calcium, water and fluids, and vitamin D.

6.     Paralysis often arises from spinal cord injuries.

It is not uncommon for individuals who suffer spinal cord injuries to become paralyzed. This is because the nerves below the injury on the spine can be permanently altered or damaged. When a person has a spinal cord injury, they must be continuously checked and inspected for muscle weakness, numbness, incoordination, and paralysis. Paralysis can take time to emerge, or it can appear suddenly without any warning.

7.     Your loved one cannot be cured from permanent paralysis.

When you learn that your family member or loved one has paralysis, it can be a hard pill to swallow and come to terms with. You may decide to put your happy face on and immediately get to work caring for them, but it is crucial to know and understand that permanent paralysis is not something that can be cured.

Depending on the injury location and the severity of the paralysis, some individuals are able to partially or fully recover with time. However, if your loved one is permanently paralyzed, they will only learn how to live and cope with the condition. They must regularly attend physical and occupational therapy appointments to prevent their paralysis from becoming worse and to relearn how to carry out their daily obligations.

If your family member or loved one suffers paralysis due to another person’s negligence, the personal injury attorneys at Philbrook Law are here for you. Our team in Vancouver and Battle Ground, WA is committed to helping our clients who are caretakers file a personal injury claim and fight for the compensation they need to get their life back on track after their loved one’s accident. Call our office or submit our contact form to learn about the resources that may be available to you as well as to receive legal advice on what you should do going forward. Our firm serves clients in Battle Ground and Vancouver, WA and Oregon.