5. The Body Usually Makes Miraculous Recoveries
For someone experiencing the near-complete paralysis associated with Guillain Barre Syndrome, it may seem as though they will never recover. This is an extremely frightening experience for that person, and for their family.
But the good news is that the body will usually recover. This is thanks to something called neuroplasticity, which describes the nervous system (both central and peripheral) as a constantly growing and changing organ – much like a muscle.
When you use any connection between two nerves, that connection will strengthen. This causes the tendrils of the nerves (the dendrites) to reach closer to the axons of the input neurons. At the same time, further myelination will also occur, increasing the speed of transmissions and making it easier for us to use those connections in the future. This is how we learn motor skills and techniques – whether it’s the perfect golf swing or a piano concerto. It’s also how the body is able to fully recover from Guillain Barre Syndrome once the illness has been beaten.