When the laryngeal nerve impulses, which control our voice box, are disturbed, the vocal cord muscles become paralyzed.
Our vocal cords, also known as the vocal folds, do more than just produce sound; they also protect our airway by preventing food, drink, and even saliva from getting into our windpipe (trachea) and causing to choke. As a result, vocal cord paralysis can affect our ability to speak and even breathe.
Vocal cord paralysis is usually treated with surgery, occasionally with voice therapy, and its potential causes include nerve damage from surgery, viral infections, and certain cancers.
Symptoms
At the beginning of the windpipe (trachea), there are two flexible bands of muscle tissue called the vocal cords that sit in a relaxed, open position the majority of the time, allowing us to breathe.
The paralysis of both of our vocal cords, which is a rare but serious condition, can result in vocal difficulties as well as significant issues with breathing and swallowing. Vocal cord paralysis typically affects only one of our vocal cords.
Vocal cord paralysis symptoms and signs can include:
- The voice had a wheezy quality.
- Hoarseness
- Noisy breathing
- Loss of vocal pitch
- As you swallow food, liquids, or saliva, you cough or choke.
- a requirement for speaking while frequently breathing
- Inability to speak loudly
- Loss of gag reflex
- Ineffective coughing
- Frequent throat clearing
Causes
The exact cause of vocal cord paralysis is unknown, but some significant causes may include: The nerve impulses to our voice box (larynx) are disrupted in vocal cord paralysis, resulting in paralysis of the muscle.
- Injury to the vocal cord during surgery.Surgery to the thyroid or parathyroid glands, esophagus, neck, or upper chest carries a risk of damaging the nerves that serve our voice box.
- Neck or chest injury.The voice box or the nerves that serve it may become damaged as a result of trauma to the neck or chest.
- Stroke.In addition to damaging the area of the brain responsible for sending messages to the voice box, a stroke reduces blood flow to the brain.
- Tumors.The muscles, cartilage, or nerves regulating the function of our voice box can grow in or around tumors, both cancerous and non-cancerous, and this can result in paralysis of the vocal cords.
- Infections.Some infections, including Epstein-Barr virus, Lyme disease, and herpes, can irritate the larynx’s nerves and cause direct damage.
- Neurological conditions.Vocal cord paralysis may occur if you have certain neurological conditions like Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis.
Complications
Vocal cord paralysis can cause breathing issues that can range from being minor—resulting in only a hoarse voice—to being potentially fatal.
Other complications may include choking on or actually inhaling (aspiration) food or liquid, which is rare but serious and necessitates immediate medical attention. Vocal cord paralysis prevents the opening to the airway from completely opening or closing.
HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT
Phosphorus-Helpful for hoarseness of voice that worsens at night, coughing that worsens with talking and reading, and vocal cord nodules that are accompanied by a violent tickling in the larynx.
Drosera: Helpful for hoarseness of the voice as well as for nodules on the vocal cords that are accompanied by a dry, irritating cough and a rough, scraping sensation in the throat.
BelladonnaUseful for sore and painful larynx with redness of the throat and difficulty swallowing food. Useful for vocal cord nodule with voice hoarseness accompanied by larynx pain. There is a lump-like sensation and a constricted feeling in the throat.
Iodum:Useful for nodules on the vocal cords that cause a rough, burning pain in the throat as well as hoarseness and a rough voice.
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