|
|
A simple partial seizure affects only a small part of the brain when it occurs, causing a particular symptom or group of symptoms. However, simple partial seizures do not affect awareness or consciousness.
Sometimes doctors or persons with epilepsy call simple partial seizures “auras”. They can be remarkably different from person to person, depending on the part of the brain where they begin. The one thing they all have in common is that the person remains alert and can remember what happens. Doctors often divide simple partial seizures into categories depending on the type of symptoms the person experiences. Here are a few of the more common types of simple partial seizures:
These cause a change in muscle activity. For example, a person may have abnormal movements such as jerking of a finger or stiffening of part of the body. These movements may spread, either staying on one side of the body (opposite the affected area of the brain) or extending to both sides. Other examples are weakness, which can even affect speech, and coordinated actions such as laughter or automatic hand movements. The person may or may not be aware of these movements.
These cause changes in any one of the senses. People with sensory seizures may smell or taste things that aren't there; hear clicking, ringing, or a person's voice when there is no actual sound; or feel a sensation of "pins and needles" or numbness. Seizures may even be painful for some patients. They may feel as if they are floating or spinning in space. They may have visual hallucinations, seeing things that aren't there (a spot of light, a scene with people). They also may experience illusions—distortions of true sensations. For instance, they may believe that a parked car is moving farther away, or that a person's voice is muffled when it's actually clear.
These cause changes in the part of the nervous system that automatically controls bodily functions. These common seizures may include strange or unpleasant sensations in the stomach, chest, or head; changes in the heart rate or breathing; sweating; or goose bumps.
These seizures change how people think, feel, or experience things. They may have problems with memory, garbled speech, an inability to find the right word, or trouble understanding spoken or written language. They may suddenly feel emotions like fear, depression, or happiness with no outside reason. Some may feel as though they are outside their body or may have feelings of déja vu ("I've been through this before") or jamais vu ("This is new to me"— even though the setting is really familiar).
For more information:
Topic Editor: Steven C. Schachter, MD and Patricia O. Shafer, RN, MN.
Last Reviewed:5/25/07
Welcome to the Wiki. This space is created for epilepsy.com members to share their own experiences and expertise to help refine and expand the discussion around important topics.
No members have yet contributed to this topic. If you are not yet an epilepsy.com member, register today to get started on this Wiki topic and the many other advantages of being a member. If you are a member and wish to be the first to edit this Wiki topic, please make sure to login, then click on the orange "Start Wiki" button at the top of this page. Or, learn more about Wikis.
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| Simple partial seizures with bad smells at the end of the seizure | Oct 8, 2009 | |
| yorkielover007 | ||
| Epilepsy and Food | Aug 24, 2009 | |
| Adrilu | ||
| My Husband Can't see/feel his Aura's... | Oct 29, 2009 | |
| hubbys_auras | ||
| lamictal | Oct 25, 2009 | |
| mother of one | ||
| Possible epilepsy symptoms? Simple partial seizure? | Aug 13, 2009 | |
| jeliot06 | ||
| Is this Aura??? | Oct 28, 2009 | |
| Shadrak | ||
| HELP | Aug 20, 2009 | |
| jubatum | ||
| Is This a Seizure | Oct 28, 2009 | |
| cocktaildizeaz | ||
| View all Forums | ||
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| AFTER SURGERY-IS THAT FEELING A SEIZURE??????? | Nov 20, 2009 | |
| gregg9130 | ||
| Keppra and depression | Nov 20, 2009 | |
| jennysomers | ||
| Frontal Lobe Epilepsy | Nov 20, 2009 | |
| Jesscottwvwv | ||
| seizure recovery... | Nov 20, 2009 | |
| jubatum | ||
| Epileptologist in DFW? | Nov 20, 2009 | |
| dhemphill | ||
| Controlling Anxiety | Nov 20, 2009 | |
| Alang | ||
| Confused about some terminology | Nov 20, 2009 | |
| drowsydreamer | ||
| Top Ranked Hospital or Best Neurologist with Epilepsy Specialty in Southern California / Los Angeles / Pasadena | Nov 20, 2009 | |
| bobfrank30 | ||
| vns therapy side effects | Nov 20, 2009 | |
| helenpe1 | ||
| Anyone experience memory loss? | Nov 20, 2009 | |
| tiff_25 | ||
| View all Forums | ||
| Title | Page Views | |
|---|---|---|
| my.epilepsy.com Updates | 20,424 | |
| epi_help | ||
| topamax and weight loss | 18,947 | |
| alexia mom | ||
| kepra | 18,843 | |
| brian mattingly | ||
| Possible cure for absence seizures | 15,716 | |
| pdl1 | ||
| Epilepsy and marijuana | 15,215 | |
| cjad234 | ||
| Sexual Side Effects | 13,080 | |
| George R | ||
| How exactly do aura's feel | 12,910 | |
| WendyBendy | ||
| MEDICAL ALERT I.D.'s | 11,357 | |
| picnupthepcs | ||
| Over 40 Different Types Of Seizures - Revised | 10,018 | |
| spiz | ||
| electrical shock in head? | 9,421 | |
| Maggie | ||
| View all Forums | ||
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| UNBELIEVABLE HAPPINESS!!!! | Aug 10, 2009 | |
| 3Hours2Live | ||
| View all Blogs | ||
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| Sleep deprivation EEG | Nov 20, 2009 | |
| freedbythewind | ||
| TYLENOL, AEDs & SEIZURES | Nov 20, 2009 | |
| cmscribbles | ||
| Links of London jewelry | Nov 20, 2009 | |
| tiffanyblog | ||
| A novice writer needs YOUR help! | Nov 20, 2009 | |
| ACSutliff | ||
| Heck of a day | Nov 20, 2009 | |
| 4mygirl2 | ||
| vaic t800 TV cell phone with camera | Nov 20, 2009 | |
| agoodsellers | ||
| Ohhhhh Baby! | Nov 19, 2009 | |
| 1sassyhelper | ||
| 29 years old, had seizures since I was 8. | Nov 19, 2009 | |
| dkalra | ||
| Nckia e71 dual sim cards cell phone with NES game | Nov 19, 2009 | |
| agoodsellers | ||
| A Memory upon the Stairs | Nov 19, 2009 | |
| kjeldoran_king | ||
| View all Blogs | ||
| Title | Page Views | |
|---|---|---|
| Inspirational Quote - My Own Personal Inner Thoughts | 8,002 | |
| Butterflygrl | ||
| my partial complex seizures | 3,859 | |
| Zanna1211 | ||
| Topomax... The Dreaded......... | 3,649 | |
| Dr Jason | ||
| Brain Zaps, tics & twitches | 3,464 | |
| JudiS | ||
| side effects of phenobarb. | 3,061 | |
| pksmom | ||
| Feeling Sick | 2,907 | |
| JBJ1984 | ||
| How can you tell if a sleep seizure happens? | 2,853 | |
| epl_controller | ||
| Tegretol XR and ANXIETY meds | 2,801 | |
| Butterflygrl | ||
| TYLENOL, AEDs & SEIZURES | 2,712 | |
| cmscribbles | ||
| Nonepileptic "Events" vs. "Seizures" | 2,595 | |
| teft | ||
| View all Blogs | ||
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| Grandparents of grandchildren with Epilepsy | Nov 14, 2009 | |
| EmiliesGrandma | ||
| neeraj clinic, rishikesh,india | Nov 14, 2009 | |
| ankita gupta | ||
| Project Uplift | Nov 4, 2009 | |
| tamliniscute | ||
| SEIZURE FREE | Nov 3, 2009 | |
| gracie9933 | ||
| EPILEPSY SUPPORT GROUP NORTH CAROLINA | Oct 9, 2009 | |
| Roxanne D | ||
| Community Feedback on Proposed New epilepsy.com Feature | Sep 30, 2009 | |
| kdredske | ||
| Parent with Child with Epilepsy,Dystonia, and Autism | Sep 24, 2009 | |
| TashaCole | ||
| RX outreach Program | Sep 22, 2009 | |
| mw | ||
| Fun and Games | Sep 22, 2009 | |
| phylisfjohnson | ||
| Epilepsy and Memory Loss?? | Sep 17, 2009 | |
| lindseygthatsme | ||
| View all Groups | ||
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| Nothing like the past haunting me again | Aug 18, 2009 | |
| tx_shane | ||
| View all Stories | ||
| Title | Posted | |
|---|---|---|
| WHY??????????????????????? | Nov 20, 2009 | |
| marymm | ||
| Ugg Bailey Button Boots–Your Winter Footwear | Nov 20, 2009 | |
| lovetiffany | ||
| Ceremony to welcome President Hu Jintao to the country, accompanied by up to 200 people Barack Obama Barack Obama | Nov 19, 2009 | |
| nicky001 | ||
| Ten best sale cell phones(one) in Otc:A2688 TV cell phone | Nov 18, 2009 | |
| agoodseller | ||
| new roads to travel | Nov 18, 2009 | |
| Marsha Cash | ||
| febrile seizures | Nov 18, 2009 | |
| febrileseizures | ||
| 6 months post brain surgery | Nov 18, 2009 | |
| robin4902 | ||
| James Rowell | Nov 18, 2009 | |
| jamesrowell | ||
| Police Officer with Epilepsy | Nov 18, 2009 | |
| Rob Jamieson | ||
| So Wonderful of Using a Video Baby Monitor | Nov 18, 2009 | |
| buyairshoe | ||
| View all Stories | ||
| Title | Page Views | |
|---|---|---|
| Jessica Roiz | 2,277 | |
| kroiz | ||
| (TLE) seizures, most misunderstood condition | 866 | |
| wenko | ||
| my story | 469 | |
| snoby | ||
| Always Have On Clean Underwear | 439 | |
| crashllama | ||
| Kelly's Life With Epilepsy | 418 | |
| kjcanada1979 | ||
| my brain has died a thousand deaths........... | 394 | |
| banffgirl | ||
| What My Seizures Are Like...... | 379 | |
| javaman | ||
| Nocturnal grand mal seizures (primary generalized epilepsy) | 334 | |
| karalyeva | ||
| Life......... | 329 | |
| dizzygal | ||
| Crystal's story | 326 | |
| Crystal11 | ||
| View all Stories | ||
