Guillan-Barre Syndrome Informative

What is Guillain-Barre Syndrome? Guillain-Barre Syndrome, also known as GBS, is an auto-immune demyelinating disease of the nervous system. This explanation makes perfect sense; that is, to anyone with a medical degree. Since we are all not doctors, let us dissect each component of this disorder and examine what it is exactly.

Myelin is a protective cover that surrounds your peripheral nerves, which are nerves that extend beyond the brain and spinal cord. These nerves control the functions of sensation, movement, and motor coordination. The sheath of myelin allows these nerves to quickly send impulses throughout your body. However, in GBS, demyelination occurs, a process during which your own immune system attacks your nerves’ myelin. This damage makes communication between neurons break down, resulting in motor, sensory, and cognitive problems.

The certain cause of this demyelination in GBS is unknown, but it usually develops after some sort of infection. These infections can include those resulting from vaccinations such as the flu vaccine, and recently, the Johnson and Johnson Covid Vaccine. In fact, the FDA has placed a warning on the J and J vaccine regarding its causing GBS in some patients. In order to find out whether a person has GBS, diagnostic tests must be conducted. These tests include a lumbar puncture, or spinal tap. This a procedure in which a needle is inserted into your lower back to obtain a sample of spinal fluid. Diagnosis can also be confirmed through MRI scans, to identify which areas have persisting nerve damage. Further procedures include an electromyography, in which your nerves are shocked to test their conduction. Since there is no immediate treatment for GBS, there is not much that can be done upon diagnosis. The only way to overcome this disease is by letting it pass its course. However, there are actions aimed at reducing these symptoms, including immunoglobulin therapy, or IVIG. IVIG is an IV-inserted medication, which suppresses the immune system to prevent it from attacking your neurons.

Unfortunately, even with IVIG, the disorders’ healing process takes months, and the first month is usually the most severe and requires in-hospital stay. During this month, GBS patients experience a progressive loss of nerve conduction, and their symptoms depend on the nerves affected. When paresthesia occurs, there is a loss of sensation and patients experience a pins and needles sensation. Paresthesia affects the nerves which convey vibration and touch sensation. Consequently, many GBS cases report a sensitivity to touch, or a severe pain response upon skin contact. Since neuropathic pain is unmanageable by typical pain medication, drugs such as Tylenol, and even morphine, provide little relief. Paresthesia also involves paralyzation and the loss of the sensation of touch. Another possible symptom of GBS occurs when motor and cranial nerves are affected. In these cases, patients experience muscle weakness and an absence of reflexes, as well as double vision and difficulty speaking. The most severe result of this disorder occurs when nerves supplying respiratory muscles become impaired. Damage to these nerves leads to critically low blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory failure, and ultimately, death.

The healing process takes months of slow recovery, since nerves roughly regenerate at a rate of 3 millimeters per day. To put this figure into perspective, the approximate leg length of a 5’6 female is 762 millimeters. From a nerve regeneration standpoint, that’s 254 days.

Patients are recommended for physical and occupational therapy aimed to restimulate nerve sensations and strengthen muscles. Either they reside in full in-patient hospital care, or outpatient. Physical therapy includes all of the effected areas in exercises, and occupational therapy includes relearning all of the senses. This could be completed with simulations with water, hairbrushes, and even puzzle pieces. However, only 30% of GBS patients make a full recovery. During this process, patients improve on a monthly outlook, but deal with daily fluctuations, including frequent episodes in which they lose all function and experience debilitating pain. Doctors also prescribe neuron-stimulating medications to help repair the myelin and limit discomfort. Due to the side effects of neuropathic meds, such as depression, unrest, anxiety, drowsiness, and loss of coordination, many patients are also put on psych prescriptions.

Patients with Guillain-Barre Syndrome experience what is known as invisible symptoms. On the outside, the person appears as a healthy individual, but they are continuously struggling with pain and sensation sensitivities. GBS can affect anyone.