Epilepsy
Overview
Epileptic seizures are caused by overexcitability in the brain. The causes and the manifestations can be very diverse. Anyone can develop epilepsy, and the types of seizures you may experience vary widely. For example, some patients may simply go blank for a few seconds, while others repeatedly twitch their arms or legs.
Diagnosis
Epilepsy can manifest differently in patients, ranging from impaired perception or tingling in the arms and legs to loss of consciousness or seizures with convulsions. If you experience an attack, it is important that you consult your medical team. They will investigate the cause, often recommending blood and laboratory tests, a neurological exam, an Electroencephalogram (EEG) and /or imaging tests, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Treatment
Epileptic seizures are usually treated with medication. Various medications are available, and your medical team will recommend the most appropriate to your case. The medication must be taken over a long period of time, in some cases even for life, so the GMI medical team is very attentive to how you react to the specific medication, and individually adjusts both duration and dosage.
The recommended treatment depends, among other things, on the type of seizures you experience, and your diagnostic findings. For about two-thirds of patients who have epilepsy, the seizures can be suppressed permanently, or satisfactorily controlled using medication. In addition to medication, your medical team may also recommend operations or targeted nerve stimulation, if appropriate.
Why GMI
At the GMI, a multidisciplinary team of renowned neurologists guides each patient through their entire journey, from their diagnostic work-up to their treatment and post-treatment care.
The GMI team will never offer a simple “one size fits all” approach to any patient. We believe each patient’s case is as individual as they are and strive to find the best solution for each of our patients, taking their specific case and diagnosis, their lifestyle, and choices into account.
We believe each of our patients is more than their diagnosis. That’s why our dedicated paramedics team supports patients with epilepsy by offering more than just expert medical care. We offer psychological help, integrative medical services (including yoga classes, and acupuncture), physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and rehabilitation services, and have a GMI Patient Advocacy Program.
Adhering to our passion for innovation, and desire to progress the medical field, the GMI Department of Neurology both initiates and participates in several clinical trials in which the most modern and advanced treatment concepts are tested.
