Causes of Temporary Leg Paralysis

Temporary leg paralysis is a distressing symptom, which varies in severity from leg weakness to complete loss of movement in the affected limb. Abnormalities that affect the brain or nerves that control the leg muscles can cause temporary leg paralysis. The development of temporary leg paralysis requires urgent medical evaluation, as this symptom may serve as a warning sign of a potentially life-threatening condition.

TIA

A transient ischemic attack, or TIA, reflects a brief episode of reduced blood supply to an area of the brain. A TIA involving the area of the brain that controls the leg can cause temporary leg paralysis. TIA symptoms characteristically resolve without permanent damage when normal blood flow resumes, which typically occurs within one to 24 hours. Importantly, a TIA may signal an impending stroke. Approximately 33 percent of people who have a TIA experience a future stroke, reports the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke 2.

Stroke

An interruption in brain blood flow that results in a localized area of brain cell death constitutes a stroke. When the area of the brain that controls the leg is involved in a stroke, leg paralysis characteristically develops. Most strokes occur due to a blood clot that blocks an artery supplying blood to the brain, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1. Approximately 795,000 strokes occur each year in the United States, according to CDC.

Guillain-Barré Syndrome

Guillain-Barré syndrome, also known as acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, represents an immune system attack on the insulating covering of the nerves 3. Destruction of this covering, called myelin, interferes with the transmission of nerve signals to the muscles, leading to temporary paralysis. According to the patient information website the Doctors of USC, Guillain-Barré syndrome most frequently occurs a few days to weeks after a bacterial or viral infection. Common preceding bacterial infections include those caused by Campylobacter jejuni, Haemophilus influenzae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Viral infections that may precipitate Guillain-Barré syndrome include those caused by the hepatitis A or B virus, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus and HIV. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke reports that leg weakness and tingling represent the most common presenting symptoms of Guillain-Barré syndrome 2. Paralysis typically progress up the body, involving the muscles of the trunk and arms. In severe cases, paralysis may be nearly complete. Most patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome experience a full recovery, although residual weakness may persist in some people.