Why Do You Struggle to Stand Up After Sitting: Rare Neurological Disorder Explained

While not being able to stand up after sitting can be a common issue at times, if it happens regularly, you need to immediately see a doctor. While it may be typically caused by physical factors like muscle

stiffness, joint pressure, and poor circulation, doctors warn that repeated issues could be due to locked-in syndrome - a severe, rare neurological condition that can lead to paralysis. Experts say locked-in syndrome prevents individuals from being able to move their bodies at all, but they remain fully conscious and able to communicate using eye movements. They can also use assistive technologies to communicate. Locked-in syndrome is caused by damage to a specific part of your brainstem - known as the pons – mostly affecting those who are 30 to 50 years of age. However, since not many know about it, small daily problems like not being able to get up after sitting are usually ignored, and LiS goes unrecognized or misdiagnosed.

What causes the locked-in Syndrome?

According to experts, the condition is caused by damage to the pons - a broad horseshoe-shaped mass of nerve fibres that connects the lowest portion of your brainstem with the cerebellum - part of your brain that plays a vital role in virtually all physical movement, particularly coordination. While the pons contains important neuronal pathways between your brain and the spinal cord, the locked-in syndrome causes damage to your pons, resulting in interruption of all the nerves running from your brain, through your spinal cord, and to your body’s muscles. This results in body paralysis. The damage to your pons also affects the centers in your brainstem that are important for facial control and speaking, which prevents you from making facial expressions, chewing, swallowing, and talking. Several specific conditions and situations can damage your pons, which include ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke that affects the corticospinal, corticopontine, and corticobulbar tracts in your brainstem. An ischemic stroke happens when a blood vessel in your brain develops a clot and cuts off the blood supply to your brain. Similarly, a stroke happens when the blood from an artery suddenly begins bleeding into your brain. Also, a few lesser-known reasons for the condition include:

• Infection in a few portions of your brain
• Tumours on your pons or brainstem
• Demyelination - the loss of the protective insulation that surrounds nerve cells
• Certain conditions, like ALS and Guillain-Barré syndrome
• Trauma or injury
• Substance abuse

Also read: How Reading Strengthens Your Brain: The Surprising Benefits for Memory, Focus, and Mental Health

Signs and symptoms of locked-in syndrome

Doctors say the effects of locked-in syndrome on your body vary slightly depending on how serious it is. Those with locked-in syndrome are often initially thought to be in a coma before recognition of consciousness. Most people with locked-in syndrome cannot consciously or voluntarily:

• Chew or swallow
• Speak
• Make facial expressions
• Produce any body movements below their eyes

However, they can easily:

• See or blink
• Hear
• Comprehend people talking or reading to them
• Think and reason as they did before having locked-in syndrome
• Have sleep-wake cycles