Epilepsy in Rockaway

Symptoms can vary widely from person to person. Some stare blankly for a few seconds during the seizure, and others twitch their arms and legs, while some, unfortunately, lose total consciousness and go into a global body spasm which can last for minutes.

​Seizures in Rockaway are generally described in two major groups: generalized seizures and focal seizures. The difference between the two types is how and where they begin in the brain.

Generalized seizures affect both sides of the brain, or groups of cells on both sides of the brain, at the same time. Whereas, focal seizures can start in one area or group of cells in one side of the brain.

Types of generalized seizures include: absence, tonic, atonic, clonic, myoclonic, and tonic-clonic, which are all variations of a similar loss to consciousness and/or motor control.

Causes of Epilepsy in Rockaway

In about half of the cases of epilepsy, there is no identifiable cause of seizures. In the other half, the cause is either genetics predisposition, head trauma, stroke, infectious disease, prenatal injury, or developmental disorders such as autism.

The Medical Approach

Anti-seizure medication is the only course for the medical community. Although effective at stopping seizures, they are not without side effects such as: fatigue, dizziness, weight gain, speech problems, memory and thinking problems, and loss of coordination. In some cases, surgeries are performed that remove portions of the brain. While options are limited, it is recommended to seek out other natural forms of health care to help manage the symptoms of seizure medication for as long as they are required.

The Non-Medical Approach

The non-medical approach to treating epilepsy is also limited, at best, a ketogenic diet. This diet is low in carbohydrates and has been shown to help children reduce their seizures significantly. Possible side effects of this diet can be dehydration and kidney stones, but if properly monitored, these side effects are rare.

The Chiropractic Approach

The chiropractic adjustment has been shown to be an extremely safe treatment option for people with epilepsy. By taking pressure off of the brain stem, the result is oftentimes a brain that creates seizures much less often than prior to chiropractic care. In one documented case, a 6-year-old patient with a history of grand mal (tonic-clonic) seizures was brought to a chiropractic office after receiving medication that did not help. She was having 20 episodes per day upon presenting to the office. Following chiropractic adjustments to remove subluxation, the patient's frequency of episodes abated to once per day.