My girlfriend suffered a concussion in December, and has been diagnosed with Post Concussion Syndrome. Since that time, she has had an EEG and MRI, in which both were considered "normal." Not long after this injury, she started to sense when something wasn't "right," and her body would then start to violently spasm in which she would lose all control as her upper body tensed up and her legs would spasm uncontrollably. We've mentioned this to the Nurse Practitioner at the Neurological Center she has gone to, and has not been helped with a diagnosis. She doesn't lose consciousness, so she's been told it's not a seizure. It has only occurred when she's trying to process questions asked, and information given to her. Looking for answers...
Uncontrollable body convulsions
- Thread starter walterb3
- Start date
Welcome to the Coping With Epilepsy Forums
Welcome to the Coping With Epilepsy forums - a peer support community for folks dealing (directly or indirectly) with seizure disorders. You can visit the forum page to see the list of forum nodes (categories/rooms) for topics.
Please have a look around and if you like what you see, please consider registering an account and joining the discussions. When you register an account and log in, you may enjoy additional benefits including no ads, access to members only (ie. private) forum nodes and more. Registering an account is free - you have nothing to lose!
- Messages
- 3,548
- Reaction score
- 96
- Points
- 213
walterb3
First welcome to C.W.E. just because you do not lose consciousness does not mean its not a seizure. There are a lot of different types of epilepsy. I think it might be worth considering a new doctor, just because an EEG or MRI comes back normal means nothing. You need a doctor who will listen to what you have to say and help you get answers, you need to keep a record of when things happen, how long, time start, time finish, what happened during, before and after. There is more but this is a start.
First welcome to C.W.E. just because you do not lose consciousness does not mean its not a seizure. There are a lot of different types of epilepsy. I think it might be worth considering a new doctor, just because an EEG or MRI comes back normal means nothing. You need a doctor who will listen to what you have to say and help you get answers, you need to keep a record of when things happen, how long, time start, time finish, what happened during, before and after. There is more but this is a start.
Hi, and welcome to CWE!
In addition to what Fedup has said, I would like to add that there is a rare condition called post head injury dystonia. Dystonia can indeed look like a seizure (tonic, clonic or even tonic-clonic) but there is no loss of consciousness. I cannot of course say that is what your girlfriend has but google this condition and see what you think, and then formulate some questions to ask her neurologist to help determine better if these are seizures, post head injury dystonia, or something else. Good luck, and I hope you will keep us posted as to what the neurologist says.
In addition to what Fedup has said, I would like to add that there is a rare condition called post head injury dystonia. Dystonia can indeed look like a seizure (tonic, clonic or even tonic-clonic) but there is no loss of consciousness. I cannot of course say that is what your girlfriend has but google this condition and see what you think, and then formulate some questions to ask her neurologist to help determine better if these are seizures, post head injury dystonia, or something else. Good luck, and I hope you will keep us posted as to what the neurologist says.
- Messages
- 17,355
- Reaction score
- 756
- Points
- 263
Hi walterb3, welcome!
It's terrific that you are advocating for your girlfriend. That will go a long way in helping her treatment and recovery. What the Nurse Practitioner said doesn't inspire a whole lot of confidence in the Neurological Center. As Fedup pointed out there are all kinds of seizures including ones that don't feature loss of consciousness, and a normal EEG or MRI doesn't rule out a seizure disorder. You shouldn't hesitate to be a squeaky wheel, and push for competent, responsive care, whatever the diagnosis ends up being. And it's okay to go for a second opinion or better care elsewhere if the Neurological center falls short.
Best,
Nakamova
It's terrific that you are advocating for your girlfriend. That will go a long way in helping her treatment and recovery. What the Nurse Practitioner said doesn't inspire a whole lot of confidence in the Neurological Center. As Fedup pointed out there are all kinds of seizures including ones that don't feature loss of consciousness, and a normal EEG or MRI doesn't rule out a seizure disorder. You shouldn't hesitate to be a squeaky wheel, and push for competent, responsive care, whatever the diagnosis ends up being. And it's okay to go for a second opinion or better care elsewhere if the Neurological center falls short.
Best,
Nakamova