Convulsion

NeuroDoc

Neurologist & Epilepsy Specialist located in FL, serving patients from Jacksonville, Orlando, Destin, & The Greater Florida Area.

The uncontrollable muscle movements caused by a convulsion are essentially the same as a seizure, but you can have a convulsion and not have epilepsy or a seizure disorder. At NeuroDoc, Omar Moore, MD, offers comprehensive care for convulsions through the convenience of telehealth appointments. Even if your convulsion seems mild and goes away quickly, you should get an evaluation to determine the cause and prevent future convulsions. To schedule an appointment, call the office or request an appointment online.

Convulsion Q & A

What is a convulsion?

A convulsion occurs when your muscles rapidly and repeatedly tighten and relax. All convulsive activity is not necessarily caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain.

Though a convulsion can look similar to a seizure, with loss of consciousness and whole body shaking activity, their cause can be from a different medical condition. Some seizure disorders (but not all) cause convulsions. You can also have a convulsion that’s not associated with a seizure disorder.

What causes a convulsion?

Non-epileptic convulsions

These convulsions occur when a health condition triggers abnormal electrical activity in your brain. The top causes of a non-epileptic convulsion include:

Traumatic brain injury
Encephalitis
Meningitis
Sepsis
Brain tumor
Stroke
Heatstroke
Chronic kidney disease

You can also have a convulsion if you develop a severe electrolyte imbalance or diabetic ketoacidosis.

Epileptic convulsions

Epileptic convulsions occur due to a sudden burst of abnormal brain activity that’s not caused by a fever or medical condition. There are different types of epilepsy, and they don’t all cause convulsions. The most common type is called a tonic-clonic seizure.

A tonic-clonic seizure is what most people envision when they think of a convulsion or a seizure. At first, your muscles stiffen, and you lose consciousness. Then you quickly go into convulsions, with your arms and legs moving rapidly and rhythmically.

Other types of seizures cause convulsions that are less extreme and don’t involve your whole body. One example, called a myoclonic seizure, causes brief spasms in a muscle or group of muscles.

How are convulsions treated?

Febrile convulsions usually only need a fever-reducing medication. If you have an epileptic convulsion, you need comprehensive diagnostic testing, including an at-home EEG, followed by medication to prevent future seizures.

Treatment for non-epileptic convulsions depends on the underlying problem. Many times these types of convulsions can be caused by stress, therefor it is important to focus on alleviating anxiety and and symptoms of PTSD to treat these types of convulsions.

NeuroDoc provides all your care through online telehealth technology. You complete your EEG at home, but your provider refers you to a local clinic for blood work, an MRI, and other diagnostic tests you may need.

To learn more about convulsions and their treatment, please call or fill out an online request form with NeuroDoc.