Periodic Paralysis - Procedures, Side effects, Recovery time, Costs and alternatives

Periodic paralysis refers to a group of rare genetic diseases that causes weakness in muscles and ‎temporary paralysis due to certain triggers. The triggers that cause the onset of paralysis or ‎weakness are usually common factors such as exercise and physical activity, stress, hot or cold ‎temperatures, food, medicine, etc. The duration of the paralysis attack may range from a few ‎minutes to hours, and in rare cases, even days.‎

For the proper movement of muscles, the muscular cells must have a specific amount of different ‎minerals like sodium, potassium and chlorine. These minerals flow in and out of muscular cells ‎and their amount is regulated with a certain mechanism. This regulating mechanism becomes ‎defective in patients of periodic paralysis. So the balance of minerals in the muscle cells are ‎disturbed and the muscles become weak or unable to move.‎

Genetics is the only known cause of this disease. It is usually hereditary but may also occur due ‎to genetic mutation in some individuals. There are different types of periodic paralyses, which are ‎listed below:‎

• Hypokalemic Periodic Paralysis: When excess potassium enters the muscle cells
• Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis: When there is deficiency of potassium in muscle cells
• Paramyotonia congenital: A type of periodic paralysis that is triggered by exercise and exposure ‎to cold temperatures.‎
• Andersen-Tawil syndrome: A type of periodic paralysis that is mostly accompanied by ‎symptoms like cardiac problems and certain kinds of dysmorphism. ‎
• Thyrotoxic Periodic Paralysis: This is a type of periodic paralysis that is seen in people suffering ‎from thyrotoxicosis – a condition when there is excess thyroid hormone in the body.

People who are suffering from periodic paralysis may have a difficult time adjusting to normal ‎life and daily activities depending on the severity of the paralytic episode. Some patients may ‎only observe slight weakness and numbness during the episodes, while some may experience ‎complete paralysis for hours.‎

There is no permanent treatment for this condition. For now, it is not possible to completely cure ‎a patient suffering from periodic paralysis with surgery or medication. The only possible course ‎of treatment is medication and long-term management of symptoms and paralytic attacks.

With ‎the help of specific medications and by making necessary lifestyle changes, patients suffering ‎from this condition can live their lives with minimum complications.‎

However, in order to determine the necessary medications, it is first important to correctly ‎diagnose the exact type of periodic paralysis a person is affected from. Like most genetic ‎disorders, diagnosis of this condition is quite difficult. Also, the different types of periodic ‎paralysis show different symptoms as well. Generally, certain tests such as Electromyography, ‎Electrocardiogram and Compound Muscle Amplitude Potential Test are done to diagnose this ‎condition. The treatment process will include two major steps,‎

1. Medicines and drugs to reduce the frequency of attacks
2. Prophylactic Treatment/Preventive Therapy, which include long-term measures to prevent ‎the attacks from occurring, mainly by avoiding the triggers that cause it. For example, if ‎the paralytic attack is triggered by cold temperature, then the patient will always have to ‎keep themselves warm and away from cold places.‎

The treatment for periodic paralysis is by taking certain drugs and avoiding the or minimising the ‎triggers that cause the onset of paralytic episode. Any individual who has been affected with this ‎condition is eligible for the treatment.‎

Most people suffering from periodic paralysis have to take some medicines for long term. ‎However, some patients may have hypersensitivity to the medicines prescribed to them, or they ‎may be having other disorders that could interact with the medicines. Such patients may not be ‎eligible to take the required drugs for periodic paralysis.‎

Patients suffering from this condition have varying symptoms, triggers and severity of paralysis ‎attack. Some people only feel slight weakness during the paralytic episode. By taking ‎precautionary measures, such people can easily live a seemingly normal life. In some cases, the ‎patient may experience complete inability of one or more limbs, or other parts of the body. Such ‎patients will face much difficulty in their daily lives.

The triggers in periodic paralysis are ‎common factors like exercise, food or temperature. So patients will also need to maintain a lot of ‎care and precaution to avoid such triggers, and they may not be able to be involved in many ‎activities because of this. Specially activities like driving and swimming becomes extremely risky ‎for such people.‎ In case any of these side effects persists or there any other health issues arising during or after treatment, it is advised to kindly consult the health specialist immediately.

To minimise the symptoms and effects of Periodic Paralysis, patients will have to maintain the ‎following guidelines:‎

• Taking medicines regularly as per prescription,‎
• Avoid food items that can cause the onset of attacks
• Always try to stay away from the primary factor that triggers the paralytic episode
• Avoid overexertion of muscles
• Maintain a healthy and active lifestyle

There is no cure for Periodic Paralysis and treatment involves the lifelong management of the ‎disease and its symptoms. So there is no applicable recovery period for this condition.‎

The main cost of treatment for patient suffering from periodic paralysis is the expenses involved ‎in diagnosis process and for the purchase of medicines. The drugs that are prescribed to patients ‎also differ for the different types of periodic paralysis. So it’s not possible to assume an average ‎figure for the cost of treatment but approximately it can range from INR 10000 TO INR 2 LAKHS.‎

No, results of treatment are not permanent as there is no permanent cure for Periodic Paralysis ‎yet. But with proper prophylactic treatment, patients can still manage to live almost normal lives.‎

The only treatment for Periodic Paralysis is medication and preventive measures. There are no ‎alternative treatments for this condition, but it may be possible in the future with more research ‎and technological advancement.‎