Over 50% of all people who suffer from a seizure eventually develop epilepsy, a neurological condition defined by repeated seizures. Epilepsy is the primary cause of repeated seizures, but you may also develop seizures because of strokes, high fever, certain medications, and other factors. The Multiple Sclerosis and Neurology Institute of Austin is led by highly-skilled neurologic experts and specialists who use the most modern technologies to diagnose and manage the root cause of epileptic seizures. If you have a seizure, please schedule a consultation at our state-of-the-art medical center with our epilepsy specialist in Austin.
Epilepsy FAQs
What is epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a neurological condition marked by repeated seizure episodes because of unusual electrical activities in the brain. The seizures can lead to sudden, involuntary twitching and jerking motions in the arms and legs, making you lose control of your body. It may also lead to transient loss of awareness or amnesia.
What are the symptoms of epilepsy?
Repeated seizures are the primary symptom of epilepsy, but you may also experience different symptoms during epileptic seizures. Each epileptic seizure lasts from 30 seconds to 2 minutes. The following are the most common signs and symptoms of epileptic seizures:
- Jerking movements
- Twitching movements
- Difficulty in talking
- Vision changes
- Confusion
- Blanking out
- Unconsciousness
- Inability to move
- Loss of control over your arms and legs
- Full-body spasms
- Limp or rigid muscles
- Uncontrollable muscle spasms
What causes epileptic seizures?
Seizures occur because of sudden abnormal electrical activities in the brain. The neurons in the brain usually generate electrical impulses to communicate with the rest of the body. If the electrical impulses become chaotic or overactive, you may develop seizures that make you lose control of your legs and arms. Besides epilepsy, you may also develop seizures because of underlying medical conditions, such as a stroke, high fever, traumatic brain injury, nervous system infections, certain medications, autoimmune disorders, blood vessel conditions, inflammatory brain conditions, and brain tumors.
How is epilepsy diagnosed?
The Multiple Sclerosis and Neurology Institute of Austin performs a thorough evaluation of your health conditions to diagnose epilepsy. Our medical providers review your health history, perform physical and neurological exams, and provide electroencephalogram (EEG) tests, which reveal abnormal brain waves. You may also receive an ambulatory EEG, which records your brain activities over several days to diagnose epilepsy. Other diagnostic tests include transcranial Doppler ultrasound, MRI, and CT scans. The medical provider will diagnose the root cause of your seizures to curate a treatment plan.
What are the treatments for epilepsy?
The Multiple Sclerosis and Neurology Institute of Austin provides medications known as anticonvulsants to help you avoid future epileptic seizures by regulating brain chemicals. Your epilepsy specialist in Austin may also recommend other surgical and non-surgical interventions to provide further epilepsy control.
