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Do seizures cause pain?

Thu, 06/08/2006 - 17:29
Hi I am the mother of a 5 1/2 year old who is progressively getting worse. His name is Danny. He has many types of seizures. He has at least 10 notable seizures a day and probably many more. he often requires interventions such as oxygen, suctioning, extra clonopin or diastat. he is on several medications clonopin, keppra, felbatol, phenobarb, and vigabitrin and several others for gi issues. Danny has tried all the other meds to no avail. We recently were told that there are only options left are to do a surgery that splits the 2 hemispheres or to do nothing. We feel this child is in pain and requires more sedation to be comfortable. The neurologist says that seizures are not painful. Danny is currently functioning at a 0-3 month level. He did progress when he was a baby. He did sit, stand and smile all of that is now gone. I am wondering do seizures cause pain? I think they do.

Comments

I've had epilepsy for 23

Submitted by Zach E on Fri, 2018-07-06 - 09:30
I've had epilepsy for 23 years. And my pain comes after a grand mal seizure. The soreness and fatigue. Mainly in my legs and back. From the seizure itself no I do not. 

Re: Do seizures cause pain?

Submitted by greengrassnroses on Sat, 2010-05-01 - 20:03

To Danny's Mom,

I am so sorry you have to agonize about whether Danny is having pain. I think the best thing is to rely on an experienced epileptologist who would know if he is awake/aware during the seizure and possibly be able to know what area the seizures are coming from in the brain.  Seizures that start in a certain part of the brain can cause painful seizures, but not all of the areas. Also, if he is unconsious as in a generalized seizure he will not feel pain.

I have had seizures for over 30 yrs from a parietal brain tumor and I can tell you that most of my seizures are painful. I am now on a high dose of Keppra and the pain is much less as the severity of seizure has lessened. But before that the pain was horrific maybe because the seizure involved large muscle groups tightening around the leg or in the abdominal area or foot while I stayed aware the entire time, or maybe because the seizure focus was near the sensory strip in the brain. 

Like the person who thought nobody has pain with seizures because they didn't experience them, I thought every one had pain when they had a seizure until I read that it was rare. My pain starts and stops with the seizure. Every one has a different experience because the brain has different functions in different areas.

If he does have pain sometimes giving sedation past a certain point can be dangerous because it can slow the heart down too much.  The doctor has to know what they are doing as far as meds and doses. The epileptologist should be able to guide how much of an increase in the anti epileptic medicine can be given to lessen the seizures.

Please keep the doctor informed of your feelings though because you will likely pick up important pieces of info to pass along.

May God bless you.

To Danny's Mom,

I am so sorry you have to agonize about whether Danny is having pain. I think the best thing is to rely on an experienced epileptologist who would know if he is awake/aware during the seizure and possibly be able to know what area the seizures are coming from in the brain.  Seizures that start in a certain part of the brain can cause painful seizures, but not all of the areas. Also, if he is unconsious as in a generalized seizure he will not feel pain.

I have had seizures for over 30 yrs from a parietal brain tumor and I can tell you that most of my seizures are painful. I am now on a high dose of Keppra and the pain is much less as the severity of seizure has lessened. But before that the pain was horrific maybe because the seizure involved large muscle groups tightening around the leg or in the abdominal area or foot while I stayed aware the entire time, or maybe because the seizure focus was near the sensory strip in the brain. 

Like the person who thought nobody has pain with seizures because they didn't experience them, I thought every one had pain when they had a seizure until I read that it was rare. My pain starts and stops with the seizure. Every one has a different experience because the brain has different functions in different areas.

If he does have pain sometimes giving sedation past a certain point can be dangerous because it can slow the heart down too much.  The doctor has to know what they are doing as far as meds and doses. The epileptologist should be able to guide how much of an increase in the anti epileptic medicine can be given to lessen the seizures.

Please keep the doctor informed of your feelings though because you will likely pick up important pieces of info to pass along.

May God bless you.

Re: Do seizures cause pain?

Submitted by Robbie_Derk on Tue, 2010-09-07 - 23:22

Danny's mom,

I do hope you are able to see this post.

I am very sorry about your son. I am18 years old and i have epilepsy. When I was in highschool I hurt my neck playing football, and soon after began having seizures.

Since I lived a healthy life before the seizures started, I can give you the before and after perspective you are looking for.

Although I cannot speak for all epileptics, I can say that I have the grand mals. The seizures are NOT painful.

What causes pain is the convulsions of the muscles. It is like doing a moderate strength workout. you feel fatigued and sore. Also, pain can come from whatever you bang up against while having a seizure.

If anything at all, the worst part of seizures, and I mean the WORST part, is knowing your about to lose complete control of yourself. It is the ultimate anxiety.

Since your son is having them so often and at a young age, I'm sure that he will most likely have it rough.

The longer he keeps having them the more damage is going to be done. Sometimes there is nothing you can do, I just hope you find something that works.

Danny's mom,

I do hope you are able to see this post.

I am very sorry about your son. I am18 years old and i have epilepsy. When I was in highschool I hurt my neck playing football, and soon after began having seizures.

Since I lived a healthy life before the seizures started, I can give you the before and after perspective you are looking for.

Although I cannot speak for all epileptics, I can say that I have the grand mals. The seizures are NOT painful.

What causes pain is the convulsions of the muscles. It is like doing a moderate strength workout. you feel fatigued and sore. Also, pain can come from whatever you bang up against while having a seizure.

If anything at all, the worst part of seizures, and I mean the WORST part, is knowing your about to lose complete control of yourself. It is the ultimate anxiety.

Since your son is having them so often and at a young age, I'm sure that he will most likely have it rough.

The longer he keeps having them the more damage is going to be done. Sometimes there is nothing you can do, I just hope you find something that works.

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