Symptom 4: Motor Abnormalities
The challenges posed by Hepatic Encephalopathy aren’t confined to cognitive and emotional spheres; they extend to the realm of physical movement too. The motor abnormalities experienced by individuals can range from subtle to glaringly obvious.
Initial symptoms might manifest as a slight clumsiness or unsteadiness during routine activities. Tasks that involve fine motor skills, such as buttoning a shirt or tying shoelaces, can become tedious challenges. Over time, without intervention, these difficulties can escalate, severely compromising an individual’s autonomy and quality of life.
For some, these motor issues manifest as a specific condition known as asterixis. It’s a sudden, involuntary flapping movement of the hands when the wrists are extended. This condition, often described as a “liver flap,” can be an early sign of the motor disturbances associated with HE.
However, the motor abnormalities aren’t just confined to the hands. An affected individual might experience disturbances in gait or have difficulty coordinating complex movements. There’s a profound sense of the body not being in sync with the mind’s commands.
Understanding these motor abnormalities as a symptom, rather than an age-related decline or sheer clumsiness, is crucial. Timely interventions, ranging from medications to physiotherapy, can help manage these symptoms and improve the affected individual’s quality of life. (4)
