Hi from Maine new to site

[DTM]

Had a seizure fifteen years ago and was on medicine for two years before stopping the meds. Did not get hurt during this one. Then recently in Oct had a grand mal seizure while sleeping. My wife woke up to the sounds of my bones breaking. Broke both shoulders and back in three places L4 was broken and L3 & L5 was collapsing. Dislocated both shoulders. Had surgery to fix the left shoulder took two hours. By the time this was finished the right shoulder was dead and had to be replaced. Was not until a week in the hospital that they found out my back was broke. Had to have surgery on my back. I was in there for a month and half. Just now starting to feel better. Everyone I have talked to doctors, PT and ambulance medics all say they have never heard of this (breaking bones by seizure) So when I ask questions they usually say I'm unique.

Just scanning the forum for a short time I have not seen any broken bones by seizure unless driving or falling down. I realise now this could have been worst for me.

Has anyone heard of this before?

[Rae1889]

There are actually quite a few people on this site who have disloctaed there shoulders and hips and other joints by the seizure itself.

I have broken both my wrists at the same time simply by having them so tense that when they hit the heater and floor/ wall they broke.

[DTM]

But have you heard of this happening when sleeping. I never fell, I guess that's what scares me. Most of what I have seen is from a fall or accident during the seizure.

[Rae1889]

I don't usually get injured from the fall of my seizures. I'm injured from what I hit while seizing. Like pounching or kicking walls, furniture, the headboard.

I have read on this site a few people who have busted their back from the seizure itself.

[DTM]

My wife explained to me that I doubled in size by muscle. There was no thrashing just crushing. Just hard to believe that the human body would let this happen to itself.

[Nakamova]

The extent of your injuries does seem unusual DTM. Did you have a history of back pain or osteoporosis before the seizure, or are your bones brittler than normal -- or are there any other anomalies in your health that might explained why the tonic (tensed) part of your seizure was so devastating?

[Endless]

DTM,

Some Seizure meds suck the calcium, magnesium, and potassium out of our bodies. If you are on meds for two years it normally wouldn't have been enough time to weaken your bones, but it is enough time to wreck your teeth.

It's worth exploring why your bones broke so easily. Talk it over with your doc, and be sure to mention it to your dentist. Ask for a bone density test. It's a special x-ray. Also a blood test for your calcium levels. The calcium blood test isn't always a reliable measure of whether you have enough calcium, but it's a start.

In the meantime, you can take calcium, magnesium, and potassium supplements. It helps. (take care with the magnesium - some forms give you diarrhea, some is absorbed better into the body and is fine. Ask your health food store for help in finding the right kind. Costco also carries the right kind in huge mega-bottles and it's super cheap)

Will you let us know how you are doing?

[labmom]

Hi DTM,

I had to respond to your post. I was searching the internet for this specific subject. My husband has never had any health problems in his life. Last October he had a grand mal seizure in his sleep. 4 weeks later he had another. Same time in his sleep. This one dislocated and broke his left shoulder. He was put on Keppra. Two weeks later he had another in his sleep (same time). I was standing over him and could hear his bones breaking. Both shoulders dislocated and broke in multiple places. The left was shattered. He had two surgeries. One six hours and one 5. He has 20 percent use of his left shoulder and about 70 percent on the right so far. He is now on Dilantin and Keppra and has been seizure free since last December. The doctors have said they have never seen anything like this before. The seizure was so strong it actually blew a hole in the bone and broke the ball off on his right side. We are still trying to regulate the levels of dilantin but they are keeping him on the high side. This has been terrifying for us both. I still cannot sleep through the night. I registered on here to let you know it did happen to someone else and also I thought this might be a great support and information sight for spouses as well.

[Dave76VC]

I had my first seizure about 3 months ago at age 47, just had another the other night and this time dislocated my shoulder, also broke it, two fragments and a fracture.

[SteveB]

no broken bones (will try harder next time, I guess) but My grand mals have only happened while I was asleep (or napping).