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What Causes Sudden Paralysis From Neck?
Question: A friend related to me that if she feels intensely sad or joyful she has recently experienced falls where she feels paralyzed from the neck down that lasts about 30 seconds and then the paralysis slowly dissipates. Any ideas? She is about 37 yo and recently divorced.
Brief Answer:
Cataplexy is a possible cause
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I appreciate your concern about your friend.
That description is completely compatible with the description of cataplexy, which is a transitory loss of muscle tone, often triggered by strong emotions. While it may rarely be found in isolation, the reason her research has brought her to narcolepsy is because it more commonly is part of narcolepsy, so commonly associated with other symptoms like daytime sleepiness, disturbed night sleep etc. So a good history about other possible symptoms is necessary, if present the diagnosis is reinforced.
If it is a completely isolated symptom though, since that is rare (although can happen), other possibilities should be excluded, such as presyncope which can occur in the setting of heart arrhythmia, aortic stenosis etc, so a physical exam, electrocardiography, echocardiography may be needed. Another possibility to be excluded if all comes back normal is the seizure possibility through EEG.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Cataplexy is a possible cause
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I appreciate your concern about your friend.
That description is completely compatible with the description of cataplexy, which is a transitory loss of muscle tone, often triggered by strong emotions. While it may rarely be found in isolation, the reason her research has brought her to narcolepsy is because it more commonly is part of narcolepsy, so commonly associated with other symptoms like daytime sleepiness, disturbed night sleep etc. So a good history about other possible symptoms is necessary, if present the diagnosis is reinforced.
If it is a completely isolated symptom though, since that is rare (although can happen), other possibilities should be excluded, such as presyncope which can occur in the setting of heart arrhythmia, aortic stenosis etc, so a physical exam, electrocardiography, echocardiography may be needed. Another possibility to be excluded if all comes back normal is the seizure possibility through EEG.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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