Neuro and Spine Surgeries

What is Epilepsy?

The word "epilepsy" comes from the Greek word epi meaning "upon, at, close upon", and the Greek word Leptos meaning "seizure". From those roots we have the Old French word epilepsie, and Latin word epilepsia and the Greek word sepilepsia and epilepsies. A disorder of the brain that also includes recurring seizures is termed as epilepsy. These seizures are due to chemical and electrical activity of the brain. Seizures can happen anywhere in the brain and involves multiple causes. A person has seizures when:

The causes of the seizures can be prevented.

There are 2 or more seizures.

Fits, convulsions or episodes are the other names for seizures. Seizures come suddenly and changes a child’s state of physical activity and awareness for a temporary period. Convulsions or fits also affect the senses like sensation, smell or vision.

I can’t imagine the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to alway search my destination.

When it’s dark enough, you can see the stars.

Once you choose hope, anything’s possible. Hope never abandons you, you abandon it.

The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.

Dear GOD, if today I lose my hope please remind me that your plans are better than my Dream.....

Causes of Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a disorder with many possible causes. Anything that disturbs the normal pattern of neuron activity - from illness to brain damage to abnormal brain development - can lead to seizures. The causes of seizures cannot be recognized (idiopathic). These seizures can occur at any age but generally they begin in between the age of 5-20. They can also occur due to family history of epilepsy or seizures. Other causes include:

Brain strokes or tumors

A brain injury

Birth injuries

Alcohol withdrawal

An infection that affects the developing brain of a fetus during pregnancy

Poisoning like alcohol or lead poisoning

Encephalitis, Meningitis or any other type of infection that affects the brain

Lack of oxygen to an infant’s brain during childbirth

Epilepsy Symptoms

Symptoms vary from person to person. Some people may have simple staring spells, while others have violent shaking and loss of alertness. The type of seizure depends on the part of the brain affected and cause of epilepsy.

Most of the time, the seizure is similar to the previous one. Some people with epilepsy have a strange sensation (such as tingling, smelling an odor that isn’t actually there, or emotional changes) before each seizure. This is called an aura.

Seizures are considered as one of the symptoms of epilepsy. Seizures are of many types and they can feel and look different that depends upon how quickly or how far they spread to the brain. For example:

Some Seizure symptoms are - Black out, Confusion, Deafness/Sounds, Electric Shock Feeling, Loss of consciousness, Smell, Spacing out, Out of body experience, Visual loss or blurring. Emotional - Fear/Panic. Physical - Chewing movements, Convulsion, Difficulty talking, Drooling, Eyelid fluttering, Eyes rolling up, Falling down, Foot stomping, Hand waving, Inability to move, Incontinence, Lip smacking, Making sounds, Shaking, Staring, Stiffening, Swallowing, Sweating, Teeth clenching/grinding, Tongue biting, Tremors, Twitching movements, Breathing difficulty, Heart racing.

After-seizure symptoms (post-ictal) - Thought - Memory loss, Writing difficulty. Emotional - Confusion, Depression and sadness, Fear, Frustration, Shame/Embarrassment. Physical - Bruising, Difficulty talking, Injuries, Sleeping, Exhaustion, Headache, Nausea, Pain, Thirst, Weakness, Urge to urinate/defecate.

Epilepsy Types

Photosensitive Epilepsy

Benign Rolandic Epilepsy - Benign rolandic epilepsy is one form of epilepsy. With this condition, seizures affect the face and sometimes the body.

Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy - Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy is among the most common forms of epilepsy. One of every 14 people with epilepsy have juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.

Abdominal Epilepsy - Abdominal epilepsy is an exceptionally rare syndrome of epilepsy that’s more likely to occur in children. With abdominal epilepsy, seizure activity causes abdominal symptoms.

Absence Seizures - Affecting about two of every 1,000 people, absence (formerly called petit mal) seizures are caused by abnormal and intense electrical activity in the brain.

Temporal Lobe Seizures - Temporal lobe, or psychomotor, seizures are caused by abnormal electrical activity in an area of the brain known as the temporal lobe. This abnormal activity results in temporary changes in movement, sensation, or autonomic function (such as heart rate and salivation).

Epilepsy Treatment Options

Till the time a person develops a second seizure, treatment for epilepsy will not begin. This is due to the reason that a person may have one seizure and never develops a second seizure. Medicines are successful in treating epilepsy. These medicines do not cure epilepsy, they prevent recurring of the seizures. These medicines changes the chemical or electrical transmissions in the brain in a particle way that decreases the chance of a seizure.

Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) - VNS therapy is recommended when medicines are unable to control epilepsy. During the surgical procedure, an electrical device is implanted underneath the skin. The lead of this device is wrapped around one of the nerves on the neck’s left side. This nerve is called as vagus nerve. This device continuously passes an electric dose to the nerve in order to stimulate it. This process reduces the severity and frequency of the seizures. If a person is feeling a warning seizure symptom then extra stimulation is given for preventing recurrence of the seizure.

Ketogenic Diet - this is also considered as one of the treatment for epilepsy. Ketogenic diet is recommended for children as it involves eating a diet which is low in proteins and carbohydrates and high in fats. The chemical balance of the brain can be altered that also reduces the chance of having seizures. Ketogenic diet is not meant for adults as the diet can result in any other serious medical condition like heart disease, high blood pressure or strokes.