what is the best way to treat spastic paraparesis?

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A diet low in carbohydrates lessens the occurrences, also taking acetazolamide or potassium-sparing diuretic drugs. Taking potassium at the first signs of muscle weakness or gently exercising can sometimes curtail an attack.  (+ info)

What is the possibility of lady who has paraparesis since 1993 due to Sub-Acute Degeneration Spinal Cord walk

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The cause was Vitamin B12 deficiency. Some physiotherapy was done but to avail.She is Nigeria.The husband has no money to fly her abroad-U.K. or Germany further treatment.She is about 45 years old and mother of 4 kids.
She may have a chance to walk by more therapy, Also a spinal fusion( grafting a rib or a rod on the spine) may help.  (+ info)

does anybody know about tropical spastic paraparesis??

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Tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP) is an infection of the spinal cord by Human T-lymphotropic virus resulting in paraparesis or weakness of the legs. As the name suggests, it is most common in tropical regions, including the Caribbean and Africa.

For several decades the term tropical spastic paraparesis was used to describe a chronic and progressive clinical syndrome that affected adults living in equatorial areas of the world. This condition was initially thought to be associated with infectious agents (such as Treponema pertenue and Treponema pallidum which cause inflammation of the central nervous system) and with chronic nutritional deficiencies (such as avitaminosis) or exposure to potentially toxic foods (such as bitter cassava). Neurological and modern neuroepidemiological studies found that in some individuals no single cause could explain the progressive weakness, sensory disturbance, and sphincter dysfunction that affected individuals with TSP. In spite of public health programs created to eradicate the above-mentioned infectious and nutritional conditions in the tropics, large numbers of people continued to be affected.

During the mid-1980s, an important association was established between the first human retrovirus-human T-cell lymphotrophic virus type 1 (also known as HTLV-1)-and idiopathic TSP (idiopathic means of unknown origin). Since then, this condition has been named HTLV-1 associated myelopathy/ tropical spastic paraparesis or HAM/TSP and scientists now understand that it is a condition caused by a virus that results in immune dysfunction.

Patients with HAM/TSP may also exhibit uveitis (inflammation of the uveal tract of the eye), arthritis (inflammation of one or more joints), pulmonary lymphocytic alveolitis (inflammation of the lung tissues), polymyositis (an inflammatory muscle disease), keratoconjunctivitis sicca (persistent dryness of the cornea and conjunctiva), and infectious dermatitis (inflammation of the skin). Co-factors that may play a role in transmitting the disorder include being a recipient of transfusion blood products (especially before 1989), breastmilk feeding from a seropositive mother, intravenous drug use, or being the sexual partner of a seropositive individual for several years. Not every HTLV-1 seropositive carrier will become a HAM/TSP patient. Fewer than 5% will exhibit neurological dysfunction or, eventually, hematological malignancy such as adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma, suggesting that other host or viral factors are responsible for disease onset.

When infected by HTLV-1 the host mounts an antigen specific immune response towards the HTLV-1 antigen. Cytotoxic T-lymphocytes of the host’s immune response release cytokines in an effort to fight the infection. These cytokines facilitate the transendothelial migration of lymphocytes across the blood-brain barrier. Once cytokines are within the central nervous system demyelination is brought as a result of bystander cell injury. The disease is chronic, progressing slowly, usually causing symptoms 20-30 years after infection.

Progressive muscle weakness;
Sensory disturbance
Sphincter dysfunction
Urinary incontinence
Uveitis
arthritis
Pulmonary lymphocyte alveolitis
Polymyositis
Keratoconjunctivitis sicca
Infectious dermatitis

Blood transfusion products are screened for HTLV-1 antibodies.

There is no established treatment program for HAM/TSP although some patients may be given steroids. Clinical studies using interferon alpha and plasmapheresis have not shown significant patient improvement. Spasticity may be treated with lioresal or tizanidine. Urinary dysfunction should be treated with self-catheterization or oxybutynin.

HAM/TSP is usually a progressive neurological disorder but it is rarely fatal. Most patients live for several decades after the diagnosis. Their prognosis improves if they take steps to prevent urinary tract infection and skin sore formation, and if they enroll in physical and occupational therapy programs.  (+ info)

what is paraparesis? i had an emg done and they used this term to describe my physical condition.?

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the results state reason for ref. woman w/spina bifida chiari malformation and paraparesis has had 1yr of progressive left arm pain predominantly above left elbow radiating into middle 3 fingers. interpetation the emg was limited to emg is normal.
other things not on report i have a left through knee amputation due to osteomylitis.
Did your doctors happen to say anything besides that to you,

Having a neuromuscular disease that is similar, I'm all too familiar with the term.

The term usually refers to Spastic Paraplegia in one form or another.

Go to http://www.sp-foundation.org/hsp.htm and get as much information as you can, once you get it you can do more search on the Internet, chat groups, etc. to get more information, symptoms, progression of the disease, etc.

Having gone through exactly what you're going through now, the tests and the "vagueness" of the doctors. I later learned that a big reason for the doctor (probably a neurologist) is that some form of paraparis are severe, even life threatening, BUT MOST ARE NOT. And the early tests that are done don't tell your doctor exactly what form you have.

Those that aren't life threatening are "living" threatening.

Don't rely on your doctor to explain much of anything.

God bless  (+ info)

Does anyone on here have Hereditary spastic paraparesis?

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I have it and I just want to talk with someone else who does. I have been having a hard time with finding a job that doesn't consist of me being on my feet the entire time. Just about all the jobs in my area want "experienced" I am not. I have been having a harder time walking. People stare at me. I have a cane but I don't want to use it. I used it once but I felt embarrassed. Probably because I am only 26. I want to know what others have experienced or just their story on how they found out there diagnosis and what their symptoms are.
Thank you
  (+ info)

is there any charity fundation who help individuals with health promblems?

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My name is Adrian because i have been born premature I have spastic paraparesis.My only chance is a stem cell transplant.Is there any charity fondatin who can pay my surgery?The surgery costs 20.000$
Organizations
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
P.O. Box 1968
(55 Kenosia Avenue)
Danbury, CT 06813-1968
[email protected]
http://www.rarediseases.org
Tel: 203-744-0100 Voice Mail 800-999-NORD (6673)
Fax: 203-798-2291

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
National Institutes of Health, DHHS
6610 Rockledge Drive, MSC 6612
Bethesda, MD 20892-6612
http://www.niaid.nih.gov
Tel: 301-496-5717

National Cancer Institute (NCI)
National Institutes of Health, DHHS
6116 Executive Boulevard, Ste. 3036A, MSC 8322
Bethesda, MD 20892-8322
[email protected]
http://cancer.gov
Tel: 800-4-CANCER (422-6237) 800-332-8615 (TTY)

This is what I found on the net. If you call these organizations they can help, or find something creative you can do to sell and raise money. There's a little girl with cancer who is making and selling beaded bracelets with words like "hope" and colored beads that represent the disease to increase awareness. You can also ask your local businesses to help, school, hospital, police dept., resturants, etc. to help out. My thots are with you.....  (+ info)

Myd ad has Vitiligo,will that mean hewill become mentally retarded?

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There are a sizable number of inherited disorders associated with vitiligo. To illustrate, they include: albinism of the ocular type, autoimmune polyendocrinopathy syndrome, congenital deafness with vitiligo and achalasia, dyschromatosis symmetrica hereditaria, ermine phenotype, familial histiocyctic reticulosis, kabuki syndrome, Letterer-Siwe disease, progressive hemifacial atrophy, progressive vitiligo with |||||mental retardation||||| and urethral duplication, Schmidt syndrome, and the syndrome of spastic paraparesis, vitiligo, premature graying and characteristic facies.


that can't happen because he's the only one in my family who brings home money. i'm really scared,help?
no that means his mentally retarded Gene gets passed on to his off spring.. moron!  (+ info)

what is paraparesis? i had an emg done and they used this term to describe my physical condition.?

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Weakness of the lower extremities.  (+ info)

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