Epilepsy
Epileptic seizures, commonly known as fits, can be quite scary, especially if you’ve never had any before. It can also functionally limiting. On my way to Perth this year, I met a young lady in her late teens who developed epilepsy 2 years ago. She attributes this to her family history of epilepsy. Despite being on a high dose of medication, she continues to be at risk of having a fit. The side effects of the drugs and the risk of seizures preclude her from clubbing, driving, studying, and taking up a job. What a life for a teenager?
Medication is an important mean of managing seizures. Its prescription requires medical expertise, close and careful monitoring. In his video, neurologist, Dr Dan McLaughlin,1 listed some principles of consideration for medication prescription including: the risk of seizure recurrence, the consequences of a seizure to the patient, the side effects of the medications and their impact on the specific patient, the length of time the patient will likely be on the medication, etc. Epilepsy Australia has made available to patients a free online diary to help them monitor their condition – www.epilepsy.org.au/myepilepsydiary. For more information, please consult your GP and/or neurologist.
My Rehab Team is a mobile rehabilitation team including professionals in the fields of Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology, Dietetics and Podiatry. We have a special interest in neurological conditions. For more information, please contact us for a free phone consultation on 1300469734 or email us on info@myrehabteam.com.au.
Sources: [Online] 1http://www.medilexicon.com/medicaldictionary.php?t=30629 thinkgp.com.au/video/features/38293 (Accessed on 15th December, 2013)
Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici at Free Digital Photos [Online] Available at: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/3d-imagen-epilepsy-symbol-neurological-disorder-icon-conceptua-photo-p278092
