California Brain Injury Seizure Lawyers
Brain Injury and Seizures
Seizures are common side effects of a traumatic brain injury. A person with a head injury is twelve (12) times more likely than a person without a head injury to suffer seizures or a seizure disorder. A person that suffers recurrent, unprovoked seizures may be diagnosed with epilepsy. An estimated 2.3 million people in the United States and 40 million people worldwide suffer from epilepsy.
By definition, a seizure is an uncontrolled burst of brain activity that can affect the body in many different ways, including uncontrollable jerking motions, temporary confusion, complete loss of consciousness, or staring spells. Symptoms may vary widely, depending on whether the seizure is a partial seizure or a generalized seizure.
Generalized Seizures and Partial Seizures
A generalized seizure typically involves the entire brain. These may include Grand Mal Seizures (also called tonic-clonic seizures), atonic seizures, myoclonic seizures, and absence seizures. Partial seizures are seizures that result in abnormal brain activity in only one specific location within the brain. Simple partial seizures may not alter consciousness, but cause change of perception, alteration of senses, or involuntary movement or body parts. Complex partial seizures may cause loss of awareness momentarily, resulting in staring spells or unintentional body movements. These seizures usually last between 30 seconds and two minutes. They usually begin in the temporal lobe or frontal lobe and may involve other areas of the brain that control alertness and awareness.
Diagnosing Seizures
Seizure disorders, such as epilepsy, are primarily diagnosed with an Electroencephalograph (EEG) test. An EEG test records and measures the electrical activity of the brain. A computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan may also be conducted to check for damage to the brain. To properly diagnose a seizure, doctors will want to know what people experienced in the moments before the seizure. Some people experience a premonition that a seizure is about to occur. With some people, something will trigger a seizure, such as a loud sound or flashing lights. Medical professionals will want to know what medications, drugs or alcohol the person took before the seizure (or recently stopped taking). An eyewitness report of the incident can be valuable to doctors.
Treatment of Brain Injury Related Seizures
Treatments for seizures such as anticonvulsant medications can be very effective in controlling and preventing epileptic seizures resulting from a traumatic brain injury. Medications such as Phenytoin, Primidone, Dilantin, Valproate, Phenobarbital, and Felmabate may be prescribed to patients who have suffered a traumatic brain injury and related seizures. Some patients that do not respond to anticonvulsants or other seizure prevention treatments may require surgical intervention.
Legal Representation for Victims of Brain Injury Related Seizures
Brain injury victims who suffer from seizures may suffer physically and emotionally for the rest of their lives. The cost of treating a brain injury victim can be financially debilitating. When an injury is caused by another person or party's negligent or reckless conduct, injury victims may be entitled to substantial compensation for their injuries and the toll their injury takes on their loved ones. If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury and related seizures, contact a California seizure brain injury attorney at the Brain injury Legal Help Center for more information and a no-obligation review of your potential case.