Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures due to abnormal electrical activity in the brain, leading to altered consciousness, involuntary movements, and sensory disturbances.

Types of Epilepsy

How epilepsy affects your life may depend on what type of epilepsy you experience. Below are a few of the most common cases treated here at Knight Neurology.

Generalized Seizures

Generalized seizures involve abnormal electrical activity affecting the entire brain, causing loss of consciousness and widespread muscle contractions or stiffness. These seizures differ from other types that affect only a limited area of the brain. Generalized seizures can include:

Absence Seizures

Absence seizures may include brief episodes of staring and unresponsiveness with eye blinking and/or lip smacking. These typically last around 5 - 10 seconds and may occur in clusters. 

Myoclonic Seizures

Myoclonic seizures usually affect motor control, appearing as sudden brief jerks or twitches of the limbs. 

Atonic & Tonic Seizures

Atonic seizures cause sudden loss of muscle tone, leading to falls, while tonic seizures cause sudden stiffening of the muscles. The key difference lies in muscle tone: atonic seizures involve loss of tone, and tonic seizures involve increased tone.

Tonic-Clonic Seizures

Tonic-clonic seizures, previously known as grand-mal, involve a loss of consciousness and intense muscle contractions throughout the body. They typically occur in two phases: a tonic phase with muscle stiffening and a clonic phase with jerking.

Focalized Epilepsy

Focal epilepsy is characterized by seizures originating in a specific area of the brain. This localized abnormal electrical activity can produce a variety of symptoms depending on the affected brain region as well as spread to different regions. Focal epilepsy can include:

Simple 

With simple focalized epilepsy, consciousness is maintained during a seizure, but slight muscle spasms or head tilting may occur.

Complex

Complex focalized epilepsy involves impaired awareness during seizures, often accompanied by automatic behaviors like staring, fidgeting, or chewing.

Partial w/ Secondary Generalized

Partial seizures with secondary generalization begin in one area of the brain but then spread, causing a loss of consciousness and convulsions. While similar to a generalized tonic-clonic seizure, the effects are typically less intense.

Symptoms

Due to epilepsy being caused by unusual activity in the brain, seizures can affect any function the brain controls. Common epilepsy symptoms may include:

Cognitive:Temporary confusion or a blank stare

Motor: Muscle rigidity, jerking limbs, or loss of bodily control

Altered consciousness: Brief or extended periods of unconsciousness

Psychological: Unusual sensations like fear, anxiety, or déjà vu

Diagnosis & Treatment

The physicians at Knight Neurology typically diagnose epilepsy if you have a history of two or more seizures from unknown causes.

Here at Knight Neurology, we perform an electroencephalogram (EEG) to understand your epilepsy better and determine the type. During an EEG, your neurologist evaluates and records the electrical activity in the brain. 

You do not have to have a seizure during this test to be diagnosed with epilepsy. 

Our neurologists customize your epilepsy epilepsy treatment plan based on the severity and frequency of your seizures. Your plan may include:

• Anti-Seizure Medication
  
• Placement of a Vagal Nerve Stimulator (VNS) 
  
• Surgical intervention 

For compassionate and comprehensive care for epilepsy, call Knight Neurology or schedule an appointment online today.