Headache after Tonic-Clonic

[Starburst]

As I mentioned on another thread, my 19-year-old son just had his first tonic-clonic seizure yesterday. It happened in the bathroom, and we do not know how he hit the ground (whether he hit his head or another part of his body in the initial fall). When we opened the door, though, he was on his back, still in the middle of the seizure.

As is to be expected, he has a bad headache today, but he says it feels more "internal" than external...and he doesn't feel pain in the back of his head, which is where he probably would have hit it.

As far as the type of pain, is there any way to know if the headache is from the seizure itself or from the impact of hitting his head? He doesn't appear to have a bump or sore feeling anywhere that would indicate impact from the fall.

Also, how long do post-seizure headaches usually last?

 

[epileric]

A neurologist told me that if a headache is a constant pain or pressure as opposed to throbbing then it is probably seizure related.

From the few convulsions that I have had I have sometimes had those pressure headaches afterwards.

 

[Janus]

I often get those pressure head aches when i get up in the morning and they are bad for a while, (am i having nocturnal seizing?) but when falling down i always have signs like a bump or bruise on my face.

 

[Cint]

I've experienced quite a few TC seizures during my waking hours and often times I've experienced those pressure headaches that last for hours. I've also fallen literally flat on my face because of the seizure and ended up with broken glasses and black eyes plus a very sore neck.

 

[BlueCat]

If by pressure headache, you mean feeling like your brain is pushing against your skull, I guess what's what I've had since my TC Tuesday. Doesn't hurt so much as just feel like I want to push back on the front of my forehead. Ears ring a bit too.

 

[Starburst]

Thanks to everyone who replied. The seizure happened on Friday, and my son is feeling much better today (Monday). I was concerned that he had hit his head when falling, but I am hopeful he did not. Is there any particular direction in which people typically fall when having a seizure of this type? How terrible to fall flat on your face.

 

[Fedup]

Starburst

Everybody reacts different after a seizure that is the first thing you need to be aware, there is a very good chance he hit his head even if he did not assume he did and get it cheeked out. Just because you do not see a bump do not assume he did not hit his head more probable he did.

If this is only his first t/c or first few give him time he will then know that the seizure is causing them, they are not like a normal headache, its hard to explain.

With the headache after a seizure I do not think he will be able to tell if the back of his head is sore and the light could be hard on his eyes kind of like a migraine but not a migraine if you understand.
I always have a headache after a seizure on average it lasts about 2 days with me sometimes more but you know the difference and it is sore, but I am 50 years dealing with this.

 

[Starburst]

Thanks, Fedup. It turned out he was having some major auras all last week but didn't recognize the signs. Even in the bathroom, he probably had about 5 minutes of "warning" time that he could have used to get out of the bathroom and somewhere safe, but he simply did not know. Fortunately the door was not locked so we were able to get in there as soon as we heard the sound of him falling (it sounded like a huge crash).

 

[Fedup]

Starburst

A hugh crash, now that should not be funny but it is, I would imagine that is what I sounded like a few times. Wait until he falls against the bathroom door, although he probably keeps in shape I don't and 20 stone lying against the door and a 8 stone woman trying to push it open. That's like a cat pushing an elephant :roflmao:, just so funny when I think about it.

 

[Cint]

Even in the bathroom, he probably had about 5 minutes of "warning" time that he could have used to get out of the bathroom and somewhere safe, but he simply did not know. Fortunately the door was not locked so we were able to get in there as soon as we heard the sound of him falling (it sounded like a huge crash).

The bathroom and kitchen can be the most unsafe rooms of the home for someone who suffers from TC seizures. Isn't there a way your son can recognize the aura or the "warning" before the seizure(s)? Make sure the water in the bathroom is at a safe temperature. And keep the door unlocked. I had a huge crash once in the bath tub and it wasn't too funny. Actually, my family was pretty D****D scared. Don't wait for it to happen in the bathroom. Learn about the warnings.

http://www.epilepsy.com/learn/epilepsy-101/what-happens-during-seizure
Beginning:
Some people are aware of the beginning of a seizure, possibly as much as hours or days before it happens. On the other hand, some people may not be aware of the beginning and therefore have no warning.

Prodrome:
Some people may experience feelings, sensations or changes in behavior hours or days before a seizure. These feelings are generally not part of the seizure, but may warn a person that a seizure may come. Not everyone has these signs, but if they do, the signs can help a person change their activity, make sure to take their medication, use a rescue treatment and take steps to prevent injury.

Aura:
An aura or warning is the first symptom of a seizure and is considered part of the seizure. Often the aura is an indescribable feeling. Other times it’s easy to recognize and may be a change in feeling, sensation, thought, or behavior that is similar each time a seizure occurs.
The aura can also occur alone and may be called a simple partial seizure or partial seizure without change in awareness.
An aura can occur before a change in awareness or consciousness.
Yet, many people have no aura or warning; the seizure starts with a loss of consciousness or awareness.

Common symptoms before a seizure:
Awareness, Sensory, Emotional or Thought Changes:

Déjà vu (a feeling of being there before but never have)
Jamais vu (a feeling that something is very familiar but it isn’t)
Smells
Sounds
Tastes
Visual loss or blurring
“Strange” feelings
Fear/panic (often negative or scary feelings)
Pleasant feelings
Racing thoughts
Physical Changes:
Dizzy or lightheaded
Headache
Nausea or other stomach feelings (often a rising feeling from the stomach to the throat)
Numbness or tingling in part of the body