Beyond Spasms: Little-Known Signs of Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a seizure disorder — a brain condition that causes recurring periods of abnormal neural activity that last from a few seconds to a few minutes.

In 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that about 2.9 million US adults had active epilepsy. The following year, it indicated that 456,000 US children 17 or younger had active cases.

There are many different forms of epilepsy, and it’s an equal-opportunity disorder — it affects people of all genders, races, ethnic backgrounds, and ages. While its underlying cause can be identified in some people, we don’t know it in others.

A single seizure doesn't mean you have epilepsy. Epilepsy is diagnosed only if you've had at least two unprovoked (no clear cause) seizures 24 or more hours apart.

Our expert team of neurologists at Memphis Neurology offers a wide range of epilepsy monitoring and treatment services, and they focus on educating patients about their conditions. When most people think about epilepsy, they think of spasms or convulsions, but there’s a whole lot more that’s involved. 

The different types of epilepsy

Epilepsy falls into two big categories: focal seizures that occur in a single area of the brain and generalized seizures that occur across the entire brain. Some forms display the convulsions “typical” of epilepsy, but they also contain an array of other symptoms.

Focal seizures are further divided into two smaller categories:

1. Focal seizures without loss of consciousness

Previously called simple partial seizures, these alter emotions or change the way you experience the senses. Some people have episodes of deja vu. While there may be involuntary body part jerking, this type is more likely to cause sensory symptoms such as tingling, dizziness, and seeing flashing lights.

2. Focal seizures with impaired awareness

Previously called complex partial seizures, these seizures involve a change in or loss of consciousness, kind of like being in a dream. The person may stare into space and not respond normally to their environment. They may also engage in repetitive movements, like hand rubbing, chewing, or walking in circles.

It’s common for symptoms of focal seizures to be confused with other neurological conditions, such as migraine, narcolepsy, or forms of mental illness.

Generalized seizures are further divided into six different categories, some of which reflect the classic symptoms and some which reflect lesser-known symptoms:

1. Absence seizures

Previously known as petit mal seizures, these typically occur in children. The most notable symptom is staring into space without awareness, which may or may not be accompanied by subtle body movements such as eye blinking or lip smacking. The episodes only last 5-10 seconds but may occur in clusters, occurring as frequently as 100 times a day.

2. Tonic seizures

Tonic seizures cause stiff muscles in the back, arms, and legs, which may cause the person to fall to the ground and affect consciousness.

3. Atonic seizures

Also called “drop seizures,” these cause a loss of muscle control, especially in the legs, so the person often drops suddenly to the ground.

4. Clonic seizures

Clonic seizures produce symptoms more in line with people’s expectations of the disorder. They’re associated with rhythmic jerking movements, usually in the neck, face, and arms.

5. Myoclonic seizures

Myoclonic seizures also produce more “conventional” symptoms, usually sudden, brief jerks or twitches that affect the upper body, arms, and legs.

6. Tonic-clonic seizures

Previously known as grand mal seizures, these are the most dramatic type of epileptic seizure with the most well-known symptoms. They may cause a sudden loss of consciousness, body stiffening, twitching, and shaking, and the person may experience loss of bladder control and tongue biting.

Specific triggers in the environment may cause seizures, so if you have epilepsy, it’s essential to learn what your triggers are so you can avoid them, if possible. You should also work closely with a medical team to manage your condition. Memphis Neurology can help you do that. 

To set up an evaluation with one of our neurologists, call us at either our Southaven, Mississippi, or Germantown, Tennessee, locations or book online today.