Vocal Cord Palsy: Symptoms, Causes, and All You Need Know

Vocal Cord Palsy is a loss of control over muscles that move one or both vocal cords. This commonly happens when the nerves that stimulate the larynx (voice box) are damaged.

Patients with vocal cord palsy may find it difficult to speak. The vocal cords protect the airway, so if the vocal cords do not close completely, food, saliva, or water may enter the airway, making it difficult to breathe and swallow. This increases the risk of aspiration pneumonia.

Depending upon the underlying cause, vocal cord palsy may be treated with meditation, voice therapy, and sometimes surgery.

What is Vocal Cord Palsy?

Vocal cords are like two muscle bands in your larynx (voice box) positioned above the windpipe. These cords open when you eat or breathe and close after swallowing to prevent food/drink from entering the windpipe. When you talk or sing, these cords touch as air passes through them, producing sound due to vibration.

Vocal Cord Palsy is a condition when one or both vocal cords cannot move properly, accompanied by tremors (involuntary spasms) of the vocal cords. It occurs when nerves that control the larynx (voice box) muscles are damaged. When one vocal cord is disrupted, your voice may be weak, or you may find it difficult to swallow.

Paralysis of both vocal cords may lead to serious trouble in breathing and swallowing.

Causes of Vocal Cord Palsy

Trauma or damage to the nerves that control the larynx (voice box) is the common cause of vocal cord paralysis. This damage may occur due to numerous reasons, some of which are:

• Injury to the brain, chest, or neck
• Tumours in the neck, esophagus, or lungs
• Thyroid or lung cancer
• Surgery in your neck, chest, or head that damaged the nerves that control your voice box
• Breathing tubes used for breathing assistance during treatment or surgery may damage vocal cord nerves
• Neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), stroke, etc.
• Autoimmune diseases like myasthenia gravis may disrupt communication between nerves and muscles
• Viral infections that cause inflammation and nerve damage (such as herpes, Lyme disease, COVID-19, the Epstein-Barr virus, etc.)
• Surgery or arthritis that inflame/scar vocal cord joints
• Toxins cause nerve tissue damage such as arsenic, lead, mercury, etc.

Types of Vocal Cord Palsy

• Unilateral Vocal Cord Palsy: Unilateral Vocal Cord paralysis is common and it occurs when only one vocal cord is paralyzed. This makes your voice weak, and in some cases may cause swallowing problems. Breathing problems in this case are very rare.
• Bilateral Vocal Cord Palsy: This condition is rare, and serious and occurs when both vocal cords are disrupted and paralyzed, making them almost stick together. This makes it extremely difficult to speak, breathe, and swallow. The risk of aspiration pneumonia is high in bilateral vocal cord paralysis as food/liquids may leak into the lungs or trachea (windpipe), leading to cough, or choking.

Early Signs

Some of the symptoms of vocal cord paralysis include:

• Persistent hoarse, breathy, weak, or scratchy voice
• Loss of vocal pitch
• Dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing)
• Persistent coughing or choking when you eat
• Feeling breathless when speaking
• Cannot speak loudly
• Loss of gag reflex
• Dyspnea (shortness of breath)
• Noisy breathing (raspy or wheezing sound)

Diagnosis

Your doctor may evaluate your symptoms, check your medical history, and conduct a few tests for proper diagnosis. These tests include endoscopy, laryngoscopy, or videostroboscopy, blood tests, imaging scans (such as X-rays, MRI, and CT scans), lung function tests, or laryngeal electromyography (LEMG), depending on your symptoms.

Is Vocal Cord Palsy Common?

Unilateral vocal cord paralysis is a common condition that may cure itself if the symptoms are mild. If you have trouble speaking or swallowing, certain medications and voice therapy may help manage the symptoms.

On the other hand, bilateral vocal cord palsy is rare but is a serious condition that may require immediate medical attention. Inhaling food/drink can lead to aspiration pneumonia, which can be fatal if not treated timely.

How does it feel to have a paralyzed Vocal Cord?

You may feel fatigued when trying to speak as more air is drawn to your lungs as you put in effort. You may feel like choking when you eat due to food or drink leaking into the windpipe. You may constantly feel like something is stuck in your throat that doesn’t clear even after coughing.

Can you speak with Vocal Cord Palsy?

Most people with vocal cord paralysis can speak but with extra effort due to changes in the pitch of their voice. Voice therapy with proper medication is very effective in retaining your voice and controlling the symptoms.

Only in rare and extreme cases, you may lose your voice completely.

When to See a doctor?

Consult a doctor if you experience discomfort or changes in speech, unexplained hoarseness of voice for several weeks, persistent choking/coughing when you eat, and difficulty breathing. Early treatment may prevent your symptoms from worsening.

Homeopathic Treatment of Vocal Cord Palsy

Homeopathy takes a holistic approach to treating various neurological and neuromuscular diseases including vocal cord palsy. Based on the severity of your symptoms and medical history, a qualified homeopathic practitioner may prescribe a comprehensive course of homeopathic medicines and voice therapy to control symptoms and improve your quality of life.

Conclusion

Homeopathy medication has the potential to reverse moderate to severe cases of vocal cord paralysis. In extreme cases, homeopathy helps control the symptoms and slow down the progression of the disease.

At PMRI Homeo, our expert homeopathic doctors have years of experience in treating different types of paralysis.

If you experience any of the symptoms listed above, you can book an Online Consultation with our expert Homeo doctor for further assessment. Since vocal cord palsy may occur due to multiple reasons, it is important to consult a professional physician for a proper diagnosis.

We at PMRI Homeo ensure to meticulously study your symptoms and provide well-rounded homeopathic medicines to target your specific symptoms. If required, we also have ultra-modern physiotherapy equipment to aid comprehensive treatment.

Book an Online Consultation Now!