Hello! Generalised seizures and painful contracted wrists. Anyone else get this?

[LinusLocke]

Hi everyone.

I have had epilepsy since I was a young child but it appeared to recede until recently following a severe sinusitis infection. I have frequent temporal lobe seizures and as of late I've been having generalised seizures. I am on 500mg of Lamictal.

Whenever I have generalised seizures my wrists contract backwards and remain frozen even after the seizure for at least half an hour or so later. My mum has been present during my seizures but even afterwards she can't get my wrists to straighten.

I thought that muscles relax after a seizure, if that's true - then why would my wrists be so strongly contracted? I ordinarily wear wrist braces after a seizure as my wrists are very sore afterwards.

Does anyone else get this pain?

Thanks so much

 

[Nakamova]

Hi LinusLocke, welcome to CWE!

The post-ictal wrist contraction does seem unusual -- I think clenched fists tend to be more common. What you describe sounds a bit like "Volkmann’s Ischemic Contracture," which can happen after certain arm injuries. In your case, it could be caused by swelling and lack of blood flow to the muscles of the forearm, either short-term due to the seizure, or long-term as the result of repeated forearm stress. If someone is with you post-seizure, they could try massaging the forearm muscles (not the wrist itself) and applying heat.

It may help to strengthen the wrist and forearm muscles that help the wrist bend normally, and loosen the muscles in the forearm may have become shortened and tight. A physical therapist could set you up with the right kinds of exercises. You should also make sure you are drinking plenty of water and getting magnesium and/or potassium in your diet -- those nutrients play a role in preventing and relieving spasms and cramps.

Best,
Nakamova