Medical conditions often trigger seizures. But if you have a seizure that a health problem is not the cause of, you have a high chance of having another seizure within the next six months. After a seizure, you should always schedule a thorough neurologic exam at Tidewater Neurology. Its medical team has years of experience determining the cause of a seizure and providing treatments to prevent future events. Call the office in Mt. Pleasant, Goose Creek, or the West Ashley area of Charleston, South Carolina, or book an appointment online today.
Seizures occur when the nerves in your brain suddenly become overactive and send out an abnormal surge of electrical activity. The electrical surge is temporary, but the chaotic activity affects your movements, behaviors, and senses.
Seizures arise from many underlying medical conditions, including:
You have epilepsy when you have two or more seizures that are not caused by a medical condition.
Many people associate seizures with losing consciousness and having body-wide muscle contractions. But there are many types of seizures that cause a range of symptoms. You can have such mild symptoms that no one notices you had a seizure.
Seizure symptoms include:
Most seizures last from 30 seconds to two minutes. Afterward, you may recover immediately, or it could take hours before you feel back to normal.
Your Tidewater Neurology provider begins by learning about your symptoms and completing a comprehensive physical exam and neurological evaluation. They order blood tests and may perform a lumbar puncture to get a sample of your cerebrospinal fluid to rule out an infection.
You also have an in-office electroencephalogram (EEG). An EEG shows brainwave patterns associated with seizures and may target the area in your brain where the seizure began.
Depending on your EEG results, your provider may order additional tests such as an MRI or CT scan that reveal problems in your brain.
In addition to treating any underlying medical conditions, your provider prescribes medication that prevents future seizures. If you still have seizures despite trying several medications, they may recommend:
During surgery, your provider removes or destroys a small area that triggers your seizures, or they may cut the connections between nerves.
If you suffered a seizure, you need medical care and comprehensive treatment from the skilled team at Tidewater Neurology. Call or book online today.
