In addition to the wins, losses and big plays of the week, epilepsy also featured prominently in this past weekend’s sports news as the Minnesota Gophers’ head football coach, Jerry Kill, suffered another game-day epileptic seizure at halftime during the game. This is not the first time this has happened to Coach Kill, in fact, it is the fourth game-day seizure he has suffered in the past two seasons, and shockingly the news brought a whole host of reactions from those of support to calls for Coach Kill to leave his coaching job.
Perhaps, the varying opinions are indicative of the misconception that often surrounds a condition like epilepsy. In Coach Kill’s case, he has the support of the University and the Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota. For others, it may be necessary to understand what it means to have epilepsy, and for those who do have the condition, to understand that the forms of treatment today are growing and not limited only to drug therapies.
Epilepsy is a seizure disorder marked by problems in the normal functioning of the brain. Not everyone who experiences a seizure in their lifetime have epilepsy. In fact, one in 10 people will experience a seizure at some point in their lifetime, but only those who suffer two or more unprovoked seizures are considered to have epilepsy. There are various causes of seizures though sometimes a specific diagnosis cannot be made, however a doctor will look for underlying cause in order to provide the most specific diagnosis. Despite increasing progress in the field of epilepsy, roughly 70% of newly diagnosed cases are of an unknown cause. For a list of potential causes, please click here to visit the Epilepsy Foundation’s web page.
However, although many times the exact cause cannot be determined, there are several types of treatments available that are helping epilepsy patients live happy, productive lives. The decisions surrounding the care plan and treatment for epilepsy patients is a highly individualized one. Where once, drug-therapies and seizure preventing medications were the go to treatments, today there are many other options including diet, lifestyle modifications and non-drug treatments such as acupuncture and chiropractic care.
One specialized area of chiropractic care that is gaining ground in the treatment of epilepsy is Chiropractic Neurology. Since epilepsy is a result of disruption in the normal functioning of the brain, and Chiropractic Neurology is specifically designed to retrain and restore balance and normal function to the brain and nervous system, it to be a natural fit to treat conditions like epilepsy. Starting with a thorough diagnosis, the Chiropractic Neurologist is able to evaluate the patient’s specific needs and tailor the care to those needs. Uses touch, sight, thought, movement and the specific connections to the parts of the brain responsible for each function, the brain is brought back into balance. In addition to chiropractic adjustments or other therapies deemed necessary such as light therapies or exercise, a Chiropractic Neurologist will also evaluate diet and lifestyle, as they relate to controlling one’s epilepsy. The comprehensive and individualized treatment that Chiropractic Neurology provides leads to fast and effective care, often times with patients seeing results where they have not before.
If you are interested in learning more about how Chiropractic Neurology can help you or a loved one, please call our office today for a consultation, 770-664-4288.