Quadriparesis Awareness: My Experience
Most people know about quadriplegia (also known as tetraplegia), which is paralysis of all 4 limbs. Quadriparesis is weakness in all 4 limbs, often cause by nerve damage.
This is what I have! It's not quite partial paralysis, though it is somewhat of a step down. My muscles can be very limp or stiff, depending on which limb it is. I have a tremor in my arms and legs. Difficulty with balance and walking. My reflexes are abnormal.
In daily life, this comes up as difficulty doing... literally everything. It takes me longer to do things because my muscles don't do what I tell them to. I can't go on long walks, ride a bike, skateboard, ice skate, roller blade, play badminton, run around, climb trees/buildings - all things I used to do before my body began to break down. Art takes me much longer, and I can't do things that I used to be able to anymore.
I wanted to share this because there's already misinfo about paralysis, and no one really talks about paresis. Paralyzed people are interrogated when they can partially move, because people think it's either All or Nothing - either you cant move or feel anything, or you can. But that isn't true.
It's a long way from full mobility to paralysis - it's not always caused by acute injury. For me, my quadriparesis is a downstream effect of a connective tissue disorder. For someone else, it could be from multiple sclerosis. In both cases, it can take years to develop severe symptoms.
I don't really know how to end this but, I guess if I could say one more thing, it'd be to be considerate. If you see someone lagging behind, slow down to meet them. If someone seems tired or shakey, accomodate them (ask if they need help, change plans to something calm, offer them a seat). If someone says they're disabled, believe them.
You've probably met people with quadriparesis (or nerve damage in general), but it's easy to just assume we're just low energy or clumsy people. And maybe we are - but we may also be struggling to keep up with a world that isn't built for us. And I just wish more people saw that.
PS: If anyone with paralysis would like to add on, feel free! <3
