Understanding Spastic Hemiparesis

If you were recently diagnosed with spastic hemiparesis, you might not understand what this condition is or how it will affect your future. You might wonder what caused it. In some cases, spastic hemiparesis is due to medical malpractice, in which case, you may have the right to pursue a medical malpractice claim to seek compensation for your medical expenses, pain and suffering, and reduced quality of life.

The medical malpractice attorneys at Powers & Santola, LLP provide free consultations to individuals who believe they have been harmed due to the actions of negligent healthcare providers. Our team of highly qualified lawyers has recovered millions of dollars for injured patients just like you, and we stand ready to represent you in your medical malpractice case. We can discuss your legal rights and options during a free case review. Contact us today to get started.

What Is Spastic Hemiparesis?

Hemiparesis refers to muscle weakness on one side of the body, while spasticity causes certain muscles to contract simultaneously. This medical condition causes abnormal muscle stiffness and weakness to one side of the body. People with this condition have difficulty controlling movement on the affected side of the body.

Spastic hemiparesis occurs due to disruptions in the brain, spinal cord, or nerves that connect to the affected muscles. It is a sign of a stroke and a symptom that should not be ignored. If you or a loved one experience this symptom, seek immediate medical attention. 

Symptoms of spastic hemiparesis include:

• Muscle stiffness and weakness in one side of the body
• Lack of muscle control
• Difficulty walking
• Muscle pain
• Difficulty walking
• Balance and coordination problems
• Poor development of fine motor skills

While people with this condition are not paralyzed, they often experience difficulty performing activities of daily living. This condition can also impair hand function, making writing, eating, bathing, opening doors, or driving difficult.

Medical Conditions Related to Spastic Hemiparesis

Spastic hemiparesis is related to the following medical conditions:

Stroke

A stroke is a medical condition that prevents brain cells from receiving oxygen and nutrients. Strokes can cause lasting brain damage, disability, or even death in some situations. 

There are two types of stroke. If blood flow to the brain is blocked by a blocked blood vessel, the condition is known as an ischemic stroke. With this type of stroke, the brain is not receiving oxygen and nutrients from the brain. Brain cells can die within minutes. If the stroke is caused by sudden bleeding in the brain, it is called a hemorrhagic stroke. Leaked blood causes pressure on brain cells, which damages them. Medical professionals further classify strokes based on where the blockage or bleeding is located in the brain. 

Signs of a stroke include:

• Mild weakness, possibly to one side of the body
• Paralysis on one side of the face or body
• Face or arm drooping
• A sudden or severe headache
• Sudden weakness
• Dizziness
• Slurred speech
• Confusion, disorientation, or lack of responsiveness
• Trouble speaking or understanding others
• Trouble walking
• Balance or coordination problems
• Nausea or vomiting
• Vision problems, such as double vision or difficulty seeing in one or both eyes

Dysphasia/Aphasia

Dysphasia is a language disorder that affects a person’s ability to produce and understand spoken language. Signs of this condition include:

• Difficulty speaking
• Speaking slowly 
• Omitting grammar or using bad grammar when speaking
• Struggling to remember words
• Speaking nonsensically
• Difficulty understanding
• Problems understanding fast speech or complex grammar
• Difficulty processing and remembering long sentences
• Misinterpreting sentences
• Difficulty expressing
• Problems gesturing
• Withdrawal from social situations

Dysphasia and aphasia are medical terms that are often used interchangeably. However, some medical providers consider dysphasia a partial loss of speech and comprehension abilities, while aphasia is regarded as a complete loss of these abilities. These conditions often arise due to damage or disruptions in parts of the brain that control speech. They are usually a symptom of a stroke or traumatic brain injury.

Sudden Collapse

A collapse occurs when a person falls for no apparent reason. In some cases, it can result in a brief loss of consciousness. The person may not respond to sounds or be shaken. 

Sudden collapses often occur when a person’s brain is not getting enough oxygen. They can also happen because of a problem with circulation or the brain or a sudden drop in heart rate and blood pressure.

Before collapsing, a person may feel symptoms such as:

• Feeling nauseous or vomiting
• Having a stomach ache
• Feeling warm or sweaty
• Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
• Experiencing numbness or tingling
• Becoming pale
• Having blurred or faded vision
• Having ringing in the ears

Collapse can become a medical emergency if the person stops breathing or goes into cardiac arrest in which their heart stops beating.

Causes of Spastic Hemiparesis

Spastic hemiparesis is often a symptom of another problem in the body. If you have a brain injury, for example, one-sided weaknesses and lack of control can occur. If you have a spinal cord injury or nerve damage, your body’s ability to send and receive messages through the nerves may be impaired. This can affect the muscles’ ability to follow orders. One-half of the body does not have the same strength level as the opposite side when you have hemiparesis. 

Various medical conditions can cause spastic hemiparesis, including:

• Strokes
• Transient ischemic attacks
• Small blood vessel blockages in the brain
• Brain aneurysms
• Brain hemorrhages
• Bleeding in between the brain and its outer layers
• Bleeding between the skull and the brain’s outer membrane
• Traumatic brain injuries, including concussions
• Seizures and epilepsy
• Cerebral palsy
• Bell’s palsy
• Birth injuries
• Hereditary diseases
• Infections that affect the nervous system, such as meningitis
• Malformations of the veins or arteries
• Brain cancer
• Brain tumors
• Nervous system diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) 
• Migraines

Treatments for Spastic Hemiparesis

If you have been diagnosed with spastic hemiparesis that is not associated with a stroke, your medical provider may prescribe various forms of treatment. Treatment often involves treating the underlying condition, which can sometimes relieve symptoms of hemiparesis. The specific treatment you receive will depend on your specific condition, health history, and circumstances.

Possible treatments for spastic hemiparesis may include:

• Physical therapy – Physical therapy involves performing exercises that focus on large muscle groups to increase strength, flexibility, and range of motion.
• Occupational therapy – Occupational therapy focuses on small muscle groups to improve strength and coordination and help with daily tasks.
• Speech therapy – Speech therapy involves a professional working with you closely to explain how to form words and sentences.
• Medication – You may be prescribed anticonvulsants and other medications to prevent spasms and control muscles.
• Injections – Hyaluronidase injections may increase joint movement and reduce muscle stiffness, while botox injections can treat facial spasms.
• Assistive devices – Assistive devices can help prevent falls and aid in recovery.
• Splinting and casting – Braces, casts, or splints may help stabilize your limbs to prevent involuntary spasms.
• Surgery – In some cases, your doctor may recommend surgery such as selective dorsal rhizotomy to reduce symptoms of spastic hemiparesis.
• Strength training – Strength training focuses on building up muscles to improve muscle control.
• Electrical stimulation – Your provider may recommend sending electrical signals to the affected area of your body to improve nerve response.
• Nutritional guidance – A change in your diet may help ease some of the symptoms of your condition.

Rehabilitation and Managing After a Stroke

Strokes can cause lasting brain damage. Rehabilitation can often improve a patient’s condition and quality of life. Rehabilitation may begin while the patient is in the hospital but may continue at home, in a skilled nursing facility, or on an outpatient basis. Long-term rehabilitation is necessary for many patients who may require it for months or years.

Many healthcare providers may be part of the rehabilitation team, including doctors, physical therapists, occupational therapists, rehabilitation nurses, speech and language pathologists, social workers, vocational counselors, therapeutic recreation specialists, psychologists, and other healthcare providers.

Rehabilitation focuses on repetitive actions and the specific needs of the patient. Patients must often learn and relearn skills to be successful. The particular rehabilitation plan depends on the part of your body that is affected by the stroke. Rehabilitation may involve:

Motor skill exercises – These exercises improve muscle strength and coordination, including activities that help muscles with balance, walking, and swallowing. Functional electrical stimulation may be applied to weakened muscles to cause them to contract, thereby retraining them.

Constraint-induced therapy – This therapy involves restraining a limb while you practice moving it to improve its function. 

Range of motion therapy – Your therapist may lead you in various exercises and treatments to ease spasticity and help you regain range of motion in the affected parts of your body.

Mobility training – This form of therapy uses various mobility aids such as ankle braces, walkers, canes, and wheelchairs to help stabilize and support the body while relearning how to walk.

Speech therapy – Speech therapy can help you learn how to communicate better.

Occupational therapy – Occupational therapy can improve lost cognitive abilities, including memory, processing, judgment, and problem-solving.

Medication – A healthcare provider may recommend anticonvulsants, antidepressants, or other medicines that affect movement.

Psychological treatment – Patients may benefit from being able to talk about their struggles with their condition.

How to Know When Dyphasia or Spastic Hemiparesis Is Due to Medical Errors

Dysphasia or spastic hemiparesis can occur for many reasons, including inheriting them or developing them due to other undiagnosed medical conditions. However, they can also occur when doctors make medical errors that deprive a patient – including unborn babies – of necessary oxygen. Medical mistakes that may cause dysphasia or spastic hemiparesis include:

• Failing to monitor the patient’s vital signs
• Failing to order CT scans or other imaging tests promptly
• Giving the patient too much anesthesia
• Administering the wrong type of medication
• Giving a patient the wrong dosage of medication 
• Not stopping excessive bleeding quickly enough 
• Delaying a C-section
• Improper use of forceps or vacuum extractors
• Failing to recognize signs of fetal distress
• Not diagnosing the patient with an infection promptly
• Improperly inserting a breathing tube
• Insufficient ventilation 
• Failing to monitor or treat hypotension 

It is unlikely that your medical team will be honest and forthright about the mistakes they made. However, you may get a sense from how they are acting that they are trying to cover up these mistakes. If you suspect medical malpractice played a role in your developing a stroke, sudden collapse, dysphasia, or spastic hemiparesis, contact an experienced medical malpractice attorney.

An attorney can review your medical records and investigate your claim to determine if negligent healthcare caused your injuries. Powers & Santola, LLP works with a network of medical experts who can explain the applicable standard of care in your case and how the treating doctor violated it. This provides the basis to make a medical malpractice claim to seek compensation for the losses you experienced due to subpar care. 

Legal Recourse for Misdiagnosis of Spastic Hemiparesis

If your condition was not properly and promptly diagnosed due to medical malpractice, you can pursue a legal claim against the parties responsible for your injuries. This may provide you with compensation for your:

• Medical bills
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation 
• In-home nursing care
• Lost wages
• Reduced earning capacity 
• Replacement services
• Pain and suffering

This claim may be initially filed through your provider’s medical malpractice insurance. However, if their insurance provider denies your claim or offers an amount that fails to fairly compensate you for the full extent of your losses, you can file a medical malpractice lawsuit against the negligent provider.

Contact the Medical Malpractice Attorneys at Powers & Santola, LLP, for a Free Consultation

If you suffered spastic hemiparesis due to medical negligence, contact the medical malpractice lawyers at Powers & Santola, LLP, for a free case review. We can discuss your situation in a confidential setting. You have no obligation to move forward with your case unless you decide to take that route. Call us today to get started.