Clinical Neurology

Seizures, Epilepsy And Chiropractic

Share

El Paso, TX. Chiropractor, Dr. Alexander Jimenez takes a look at seizures, epilepsy and treatment options.
Seizures are defined as, abnormal movements or behavior from unusual electrical activity in the brain. Seizures are a symptom of epilepsy but not all who have seizures have epilepsy. As there is a group of related disorders characterized by recurrent seizures. Epilepsy is a group of disorders that are related and characterized by recurrent seizures. There are different types of epilepsy and seizures. There are medications for epilepsy that are prescribed to control seizures, and surgery is rarely needed if medication is ineffective.

Seizures & Epilepsy

  • Seizures occur when there is spontaneous depolarization and synchronized firing of groups of neurons, often in response to a trigger such as metabolic compromise
  • Any brain can have a seizure if the conditions are right
  • Epilepsy or seizure disorder, is the pathologically increased likelihood of seizure activity occurring in a persons brain

Seizure Categories

  • General/Global onset seizures

  • Generalized motor seizure (Grand mal)
  • Absence seizure (Petite mal)
  • Focal onset seizures

  • Simple partial seizure
  • Motor cortex (Jacksonian)
  • Sensory cortex
  • Somatosensory
  • Auditory-vestibular
  • Visual
  • Olfactory-gustatory (uncinate)
  • Complex partial seizure (libmbic)
  • Continuous/Ongoing seizures

  • Generalized (status epilepticus)
  • Focal (epilepticus partialis continua)

Generalized Motor Seizure

  • Electrical depolarization of neurons in the entire cerebral cortex simultaneously
  • Trigger assumed to be outside of the cerebral cortex, such as in thalamus or brainstem
  • Episodes begin with loss of consciousness followed by tonic contraction (extension)
  • Respiration is halted, and hair is expelled past the closed glottis (“cry”)
  • Elevated blood pressure, dilated pupils
  • Intermittent contraction and relaxation (clonic activity)
  • Usually lasts a few minutes, but for some patients can last hours or even days (status epilepticus)
  • Generally begin in childhood

Tonic Clonic Seizure

nanfoundation.org/neurologic-disorders/epilepsy/what-is-epilepsy

My Tonic Clonic/Grand Mal Seizure

Seizure Triggers

  • Ionic abnormalities (Na, K, Ca, Mg, BUN, pH)
  • Sedative withdrawal in addicts (alcohol, barbiturates, benzodiazepines)
  • Hypoglycemia
  • Hypoxia
  • Hyperthermia (especially patients under 4 years old)
  • Toxin exposure
  • Genetic abnormal sensitivity of neurons (rarely)

EEG Of Grand Mal Seizure

  • Tonic phase
  • Clonic phase
  • Postictal phase

Swenson, R. Epilepsy. 2010

Absence (Petit Mal) Seizures

  • Most often occur in children
  • Originate in the upper brainstem
  • Often look like losing train of thought or staring off into space
  • These children may go on to develop focal seizures later in life
  • Spontaneous remission possible as neurons mature

Absence Seizure Caught On Camera

EEG Of Petit Mal Seizure

  • 3 spike-waves/second
  • Can be elicited by hyperventilation
  • Spike = excitation
  • Wave = inhibition

Swenson, R. Epilepsy. 2010

Simple Focal/Partial Seizures

  • May be with or without secondary generalization
  • Patient generally retains consciousness
  • Begin in a localized primary functional area of the cortex
  • Different symptoms and classifications depending on where in the brain the epileptiform activity originates
  • Sensory areas usually produce positive phenomenon (seeing lights, smelling something, etc, as opposed to lack of sensation)
  • Motor areas may produce positive or negative symptomology
  • Function of area of involvement may be reduced during the postictal phase
  • If the primary motor cortex is involved = “Todd paralysis

Partial (Focal Seizure) 12 Yr Old Boy

Partial Seizure In The Motor Cortex

  • May begin as a jerking of one body area, on the side contralateral to the epileptiform activity, but may spread through the body in a homuncular pattern (Jacksonian seizure/march)

www.maxplanckflorida.org/fitzpatricklab/homunculus/science/

Partial Seizure In The Somatosensory Cortex

Produces paresthesia on the contralateral side to the epileptiform activity and can also spread in a homuncular pattern (march) similar to the motor type

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cortical_homunculus

Partial Seizure In The Auditory – Vestibular Area

  • Posterior temporal region involvement
  • May produce tinnitus and/or vertigo
  • Audiometry will be normal

Partial Seizure In The Visual Cortex

  • May produce hallucinations in the contralateral visual field
  • Visual cortex (calcarine cortex) produced flashes, spots, and/or zig-zags of light
  • Visual association cortex produces more complete hallucinations such as floating balloons, stars, and polygons

Partial Seizure In The Olfactory – Gustatory Cortex

  • May produce olfactory hallucinations
  • Likely area to spread to more generalized seizure

Complex Partial Seizures

  • Involves the association cortices of the frontal, temporal or parietal lobes
  • Similar to simple partial seizures but there may be more confusion/reduced consciousness
  • Limbic Cortex (hippocampus, parahippocampal temporal cortex, retro-splenial-cingulate-subcallosal cortex, orbito- frontal cortex, and insula) is the most susceptible to metabolic injury
  • Therefore this is the most common type of epilepsy

  • May produce visceral and affective symptoms (most likely), peculiar and unpleasant smells and tastes, bizarre abdominal sensations, fear, anxiety, rarely rage, and excessive sexual appetite, visceral and behavioral phenomena such as sniffing, chewing, lip smacking, salivation, excessive bowel sounds, belching, penile erection, feeding, or running

Clips Of Different Seizures In Same Child

Continuous/Ongoing Seizures

  • 2 Types

  • Generalized (status epilepticus)

  • Focal (epilepticus partialis continua)

  • Continuous or recurrent seizures over a 30-minute period without return to normal over the period
  • Prolonged seizure activity or multiple seizures occurring close together without full recovery in between
  • Most often seen as the result of acute sensation of anticonvulsive medications due to rebound hyperexcitability
  • Emotional excess, fever, or other hypermetabolic states, hypoglycemia, hypocalcemia, hypomagnesemia, hypoxemia, toxic states (e.g., tetanus, uremia, exogenous, excitatory agents such as amphetamine, aminophyline, lidocaine, penicillin) and sedative withdrawal may also predispose to ongoing seizure

Status Epilepticus

  • Ongoing grand mal seizure is a medical emergency because it may result in brain damage or death if prolonged seizure is not stopped
  • Elevated temperature due to sustained muscle activity, hypoxia due to inadequate ventilation and severe lactic acidosis can damage neurons
  • Death can result from shock and overtaxation of cardiopulmonary

Epilepsia Partialis Continua

  • Less life threatening than status epilepticus, but seizure activity must be terminated as it may progress to generalized seizure form if allowed to go on for prolonged periods
  • May be a result of neoplasm, ischemia-infarction, stimulant toxicity or hyperglycemia

Treatment Of Seizures

  • If the seizures are the result of an underlying condition, such as infection, disorders of fluid and electrolyte balance, exogenous and endogenous toxicities, or renal failure, treatment of the underlying condition should ameliorate seizure activity
  • Most antiepileptic medications treat multiple seizure types – not perfect though
  • Some are slightly more effective (phenytoin, carbamazepine, valproic acid and phenobarbital)
  • There are those that have fewer side effects (gabapentin, lamotrigine and topiramate)
  • Certain medications only treat one seizure type (such as ethosuximide for absence seizures)

Sources

Alexander G. Reeves, A. & Swenson, R. Disorders of the Nervous System. Dartmouth, 2004.
Swenson, R. Epilepsy. 2010.

Post Disclaimers

Professional Scope of Practice *

The information herein on "Seizures, Epilepsy And Chiropractic" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.

Blog Information & Scope Discussions

Our information scope is limited to Chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somatovisceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.

We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.*

Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.

We are here to help you and your family.

Blessings

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN*, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License # TX5807, New Mexico DC License # NM-DC2182

Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN*) in Florida
Florida License RN License # RN9617241 (Control No. 3558029)
Compact Status: Multi-State License: Authorized to Practice in 40 States*
Presently Matriculated: ICHS: MSN* FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner Program)

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN* CIFM*, IFMCP*, ATN*, CCST
My Digital Business Card

Published by

Recent Posts

Exploring Support Therapies for Endometriosis Management

For individuals living with cyclical or chronic endometriosis symptoms, can incorporating support therapies help in… Read More

March 18, 2024

Traction Therapy: A Non-Surgical Approach to Decompressing Herniated Discs

Can individuals with herniated discs find the relief they are looking for from traction therapy… Read More

March 18, 2024

Exploring the Different Types of Egg Substitutes

Can using egg substitutes or replacements be safe for individuals with an egg allergy? Substitutes… Read More

March 15, 2024

What is Spinal Disc Height Restoration with Decompression Therapy?

Can individuals with spinal pain in their necks and back utilize decompression therapy to restore… Read More

March 15, 2024

Cosmetic Acupuncture: A Natural Anti-Aging Solution

For individuals wanting to improve or maintain skin health, can incorporating acupuncture help improve skin… Read More

March 14, 2024

Effective Nonsurgical Treatments for Sciatica: Get Back to Pain-Free Living

Can non-surgical treatments like acupuncture and spinal decompression provide relief to individuals dealing with sciatica?… Read More

March 14, 2024