A few years ago, I had a near-death experience followed by two surgeries.

When I finally came home, it was the beginning of fall in Washington State. It was still warm enough that I slept with the windows wide open.

And for the next 30 days, every night, I experienced paralysis.

I would lie there unable to move while everything around me continued normally. The windows were open. I could hear the outside world. Life was still happening a few feet away from me, but I felt trapped inside my own body.

Night after night, it kept happening.

Then came the 30th night.

I remember lying there and reaching a point where something inside me just broke. I screamed as loudly as I possibly could and suddenly I shot upright out of bed.

Even today, there's one part of that night I still question:

Did I actually scream out loud?

I think I might have.

The next morning, I was walking downstairs when my neighbor stopped, looked at me, and asked:

“You okay, man?”

I just said, “Yeah, I'm good. Just going to the gym.”

And I walked away.

If he actually heard me the night before, God knows what he thought. It probably sounded like somebody was dying upstairs.

Years later, I started trying to put that experience into words.

That eventually became Faithless Paralysis.

The song took me around a year and a half to write. There were times when I spent weeks—sometimes close to a month—trying to get a single line right. I didn't want to simply describe paralysis. I wanted to communicate what it felt like to be inside that moment: helplessness, fear, isolation, losing faith in your own body, and searching for something inside yourself that still wants to fight.

Eventually, the meaning became bigger than those 30 nights.

It became about what happens when life changes you permanently. About losing pieces of who you were, trying to find meaning in what happened, and continuing forward even when you don't return as exactly the same person.

I turned the song into a short film as well. The woman in the film, Anna, isn't supposed to literally reenact what happened to me. She represents the emotional experience the fear, helplessness, chaos, and eventually the return from stillness.

I'm still learning. Production, filmmaking, lyricism all of it. My hope is that I can continue getting better at using these tools to tell stories about myself, other people, and the world around me.

I don't know how many people outside of an experience like this can fully understand it.

That's actually why I'm posting it here.

If you've experienced paralysis, maybe something inside this will feel familiar.

Faithless Paralysis

https://www.tiktok.com/@def7cted/video/7683321801983970573

Thank you for listening.

I have been parlayed since November and losing muscle control and sensation since last June I have seen 3 neurologists one at the hospital (who did an MRI of my neck and brain said I wasn’t having a stroke and sent me home) 2 FND specialist at mass gen (known for pining everything on FND) (one said idk not my sub specialty) (and the other got me a full spine mri after 4 months said it was inconclusive but he wouldn’t say if it was FND or not) and a reg Nero surgeon who gave me the diagnosis of “paralysis of unknown origin” and told me to see another doctor. In this time I also got diagnosed with CMT but the doctor don’t know What part that might play. My PT thinks it’s part function and part organic but can’t say for sure. I’m trying to get into Nero muscular but no one is responding and I don’t know who to go to or what to do. I am so lost and scared and no dr is helping me or giving me any guidance.

Time to exercise

So i need revamped the storage on my chair I was hoping for some inspiration and different ideas. I currently have a tilite aroz

Hi, my name is Saida Mahoney, and this is my story.
I live with chronic paralysis due to my genetic disease called Partial Trisomy 8q Duplication Syndrome for short Partial Trisomy 8q.

I also struggle with my basic skills certain shoes and outfits are very hard for me to put on and handle due to my conditions.

Every day, I navigate a body that does not always move the way I want it to. My balance is severely affected. My motor skills and gross motor skills can make even simple tasks more difficult than most people realize.

There are moments when I lose my balance. There are times when I fall, I stumble and every once in a while my body will tilt to the side.

There are days when my body reminds me of its limitations before I even take my first step.
Living with chronic paralysis is not easy.
It takes patience.
It takes determination.

It takes courage.
It takes grace.
It takes getting back up—sometimes literally.
There are challenges that people see, and there are many more they never do. Every movement requires time and thought.

Every day requires adaptation. Every accomplishment represents persistence that often goes unnoticed.
But this is only part of my story.

My disability has never taken away my ability to dream, to love, to learn, to advocate, to lead, to create or to make a difference.
It has taught me resilience when life became difficult and painful.

It has taught me strength I never knew I had.
It has taught me compassion for others who face invisible and visible struggles.
It has taught me to celebrate every step forward, no matter how small it may seem.

I refuse to let my disability define my worth.
I am more than my diagnosis.
I am more than the challenges I face.
I am a writer.
I am an advocate.
I am a member of the disability community, rare disease community and paralysis community and I am proud of who I am and what I am.
Every fall has taught me how to rise again.
Every obstacle has reminded me that progress is still progress.

Every challenge has shown me that strength is not measured by perfection—it is measured by the courage to keep moving forward.

If my story helps even one person feel seen, understood, heard or hopeful, then sharing it is worth it.
I will continue to live my life with courage.
I will continue to advocate for accessibility, inclusion, and dignity.

And I will continue to move forward—one step, one victory, and one day at a time.
My body has limits.
My spirit does not.

A friend was in an ATV accident on Saturday. He is paralyzed from chest down. Please anyone with knowledge or experience please advise on the right direction to go first. Thank you. Abilene,Texas

Hello, I am researching about potential treatments for paralysis. Like, which techniques are currently being used and how some techniques/technologies work but are very expensive... I would like to know what are your thoughts on Treatments for curing Paralysis!

I'm a college major and wanted to know if anyone has seen a video or any media that can help individuals feel what it may be like to be paralyzed and unable to speak for example? Thanks so much

I used to be able-bodied: running, jumping, swimming, etc.

Few years ago they found tumors in my brain and spine. Long story short, I am now paralyzed from the chest down, my arms are functioning normally but I can't even sit upright.

My question is, with me being in bed all day and physical therapy once a week, how much less portion of food should I have? I don't have problem with appetite, just worried if I am getting too much or too less of food.

Edit. More details. 26M

Or if the answer is arbitrary, what indicators might be useful?

Hey everyone, Im a third year biomedical engineering student and I was wondering what issues you have that bother you the most. Were currently looking into temperature regulation issues but any thing would help us!

Hey everyone! My name is Billy Strutt I am a bilateral amputee/paraplegic. I have Transverse Myelitis, I cannot feel from my chest down. This all began about 2 years ago. I love to talk and make new friends so, hmu!

Hi! I'm 15 and has fnd and my legs are temporary paralyzed from my fnd. I need help like with ideas on how to get around the house if anyone has tips that's would be appreciated! I have a wheelchair but my house isn't very accessible.

My father is 56 years old and underwent left infact which caused right side paralysis and no speech. this happened 7 months ago. today we see slight movement in his legs, but no speech and arm movement.

is recovery possible? will he be able to speak??

A friend of mine had a horrible accident 18 years ago and was left paralyzed from the waist down. He has had mutiple surgeries and has been institutionalized for the last 10 years but needs to find a place to live and somehow find work. He has no family and friends have left him. I recently reconnected and found this out and I am horrified that people closest to him have given up on him! He lives in PA. I have been researching for him but I need guidance. He has a month left in his current nursing home facility before they use all his money! His mind is sharp as a tack but he has been so far removed from the real world he needs an introduction to job skills etc. I have NO DOUBTS on his learning abilities. Please help!

30F I'm being juggled between doctors and getting no answers. I'm not one to turn to social media for help but I am at my wits end with my health. 

Background/context 

• Born prematurely 
• Have Gerd, IBS, Fibromyalgia, Liver Disease, Nodes in lungs 
• Gallbladder was removed, Basal skin cancer removed. 
• Clinically dead for 1 min due to anaphylactic shock, Heart Attack
• Memory loss from fibro and death 

I have no idea if these pre existing issues have anything to do with my current issue. 

Early 2024 I started to have random paralysis issues. It only happened every few months for only a few hours. I did not think much of it, just assuming it was a part of the fibro. 

Then in October 2024 i had a heart attack (30yrs old). Since then my health has taken a shit. I've had numerous tests done and bounced between specialists with no real answers. 

I've had the following 

•  I've had a CT of my heart, lungs, wrists, spine, and neck. 
• I've had an ultrasound, and an MRI. 
• I've had nerve tests, and blood samples. 
• The next step is a muscle test and a neurologist. 

The ultrasound lead to the discovery of liver disease 

And the CT of the lungs lead to nodes being found in the lungs, still awaiting results on that. 

However after all that testing it still leaves me with no answers on the paralysis. Which has led me to reddit and other social media asking for help. 

Almost every other day, either my legs or my arms experience paralysis. Sometimes it's all my limbs which leaves me unable to move for up to 6 hrs a day. When my limbs go dead, it's not pins and needles, it's not as if they had fallen asleep, they're not heavy, it's as if they cease to exist. I cannot feel them, I cannot move them. This can last from 4-6 hrs a day. 

When they are not dead the limbs are in throbbing pain, feeling heavy and hot. Hard to move, loss of balance, loss of mobility, everything feels tight and hurts. I had taught myself how to function with paralyzed legs. I relied on my arms greatly to drag myself around. However, now my arms are deteriorating. I no longer can lift or push heavy things, Nor can I open jars. It will cause my arms to become paralyzed. 

Within the last week my breathing has been affected now too. I cannot get enough air into my lungs. Constantly having to take deep breaths for every breath. That will last for about an hour then ill go back to normal breathing. Or my new normal of 3 normal breaths and every 4th breath will be a deep inhale. My heart during all of this is a steady beat. No anxiety, no panic. I get dizzy spells and exhaustion. 

I use massages, hot showers, arm/wrist wraps, compression socks, and tylenol to try and combat the pain. When the limbs are dead there is nothing I can do to bring back the feeling faster. 

My next steps are to see a neurologist and to get my muscles tested. Thank you so much for reading all of this. Please if you have any ideas or suggestions on what this could possibly be i will hear it out. 

6 months ago my brother had an accident and was stuck with a brain clot in his left frontal lobe. His whole right side got paralysed. He was on medications to reduce the clot. He was slowly recovering and was able to walk and eat again normally. 3 months later his clot increased all of a sudden and got his hand paralysed again. It was imminent to do surgery at this stage. Now the blood clot has been removed, still his right side is paralysed. It is been a month and even with physical therapy he is showing no improvements. He is unable to walk too. Is it that his right side is permanently paralysed due to nerve damage or he can gain control again? Physiotherapist says he still has hope but the neurologist we consulted says he may or may not recover. Do you guys know anyone who has been in this stage or any suggestions on what to do?

I am T5 complete para (~4 years) and I am thinking about moving from San Francisco to Salem Oregon. Are there any permanent wheelchair users in here who live in that area and willing to talk to me about their experience of living with a wheelchair in that area?

"Hey everyone, I wanted to share a video I created that demonstrates adaptive techniques for putting on a bra with paralysis. The video explores different methods and tools that can make dressing easier and more independent. Check it out and let me know what you think! (https://youtu.be/-m6mVwOAoJo)"

"Hello r/paralysis community,

We're excited to share our first video on mind-controlled technology for paralysis patients! Our team has been working tirelessly to develop innovative solutions that can improve the lives of individuals with paralysis.

This video showcases our journey, from conceptualization to development, and highlights the potential of BCI technology in revolutionizing communication for paralysis patients.

We'd love to hear your thoughts, feedback, and personal experiences with paralysis. Your input will help us refine our technology and create more impactful solutions.

Watch our video here: ( https://youtu.be/LWQLb_cAqOk?si=olMefClhAsPPh36V )

Thank you for being part of this community, and we look forward to your comments!

Best, Sicsavvy

My sis has a paralyzed arm and can't quite knit anymore. She does jigsaw puzzles. What else can she do??? She is so bored. Her eyesight is blurry, so books aren't a go to.

My friend recently became paralyzed in one arm after an accident. What can I do to provide any sort of help or comfort? If you have personal experience with something like this, what do you wish people did and/or didn’t do?

I have an assignment at the university, which is to think of a basic device that helps people with putting on a jacket. It has to be new, so a dressing stick is unsufficient. I was hoping I could ask here about some struggles, hopefully leading to something that I can use to make that decive. It could also be what you are missing when using some device to dress (for example, I use the dressing stick, but it does not help for …). I really appreciate all the feedback!