Epilepsy

About 3.4 million Americans have epilepsy and are at risk for unexpected seizures. At Neurology Care, the experienced medical team provides diagnostic testing and treatment services for epilepsy. They customize care plans using medications to prevent seizures. The team may also recommend surgery to treat epilepsy when medications aren’t working well. Call the office in Waxahachie, Mesquite, or Mansfield, Texas, to schedule a diagnostic evaluation for epilepsy or book a consultation online today. 

What is epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a brain disorder that causes seizures, which are short changes in normal brain activity.

In some people, a seizure can appear as a staring spell. Other types of seizures can cause you to fall to the ground shaking and lose awareness of what’s happening. Seizures can last for a few seconds to a few minutes, depending on your type of seizure.

You might develop epilepsy because of other conditions that affect your brain, such as:

• Stroke
• Brain tumor
• Brain infection
• Traumatic brain injury

Epilepsy can also result from neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s disease or genetic disorders like Down’s syndrome. Some people may develop epilepsy for no identifiable reason (idiopathic epilepsy).

When should I seek medical attention for epilepsy?

You should schedule a diagnostic evaluation at Neurology Care if you have a seizure for the first time or if you have recurrent seizures.

The neurology team reviews your personal and family medical histories and reviews your symptoms. They may request one or more diagnostic tests to identify the cause of your seizures. Tests can include:

• Electroencephalogram (EEG)
• Computerized tomography (CT) scan
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Positron emission tomography (PET) scan

The team also performs neuropsychological tests to evaluate your memory, speech, and thinking skills to learn more about what part of your brain is involved in your seizures.

Based on your test results, the team customizes a treatment plan to keep your seizures under control.

How is epilepsy treated?

Your treatment plan for epilepsy may include anti-seizure medications to reduce the frequency and intensity of seizures. The Neurology Care team works closely with you to find the right medications to manage your epilepsy in the long term.

Many people remain seizure-free with medications. However, you may need surgery if they don’t work well for you. The best candidates for surgery are those whose seizures originate in a well-defined area of your brain. This is because your surgeon will remove the area of your brain that contributes to seizures.

You might also be a candidate for epilepsy surgery if the part of your brain they need to remove won’t interfere with your vision, hearing, speech, or other functions.

Call the Neurology Care office near you to learn more about the available treatment options for epilepsy, or book an appointment online today.