Muscle Weakness and Paralysis
Dr. Weyrich's Naturopathic Functional Medicine Notebook
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Etiology
The most obvious cause of paralysis or muscle weakness is nerve damage due to trauma. There are a number of other possibilities that must be considered as well:- Mitochondrial Dysfunction
- Hypothyroidism is common in muscle weakness.
- Elevated urinary levels of 3-hydroxyphenyl-3-hydroxypropionic acid (HPHPA) and other markers of dysbiotic overgrowth with Clostridia spp. are common in muscle weakness and paralysis [Shaw2008] [GP].
Diagnosis
- Basal body temperature below 97.8 degrees F, elevated TSH, or depressed T3 (suggests hypothyroidism).
- Organic Acid Test (elevated markers for gut dysbiosis).
Differential Diagnosis
- Physical injury to upper or lower motor neurons.
- Vitamin B12 deficiency [stuart2006].
Treatment
- Treat dysbiosis if present.
Pathophysiology
The bacteria Clostridium botulinum is known to produce a potent neurotoxin that causes flaccid paralysis. Many poorly characterized species of Clostridium are known to contribute to dysbiosis, so it is reasonable to consider the possibility that some of these bacteria also might produce neurotoxins capable of producing similar symptoms.ICD-9 Codes
| ICD9-Code | Description | Comments |
|---|---|---|
References
Unless specifically noted above, references used in the construction of this web page include the following:[FDM] Lecture notes from Functional Medicine University.
[SCNM] Lecture notes from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine.
[UT] Lecture notes from the University of Tennessee graduate programs in Chemistry and Biochemistry.
[Shaw2008] Shaw W. Biological Treatments for Autism & PDD, Third Edition. (2008).
[Stuart2006] J.J. Stuart & S.M. Pacholok. Could it be B12? An Epidemic of Misdiagnoses. Sanger, CA: Quill Driver Books/Word Dancer Press (2006).
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