Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a chronic disorder of the brain that manifests as recurrent unprovoked seizures. Seizures arise from brief, excessive, and synchronous electrical activity in groups of neurons and can take various forms — from generalized tonic-clonic seizures to focal seizures and absence seizures. The specific form, causes, and treatment of epilepsy are determined by a specialist neurologist or epileptologist based on EEG, video EEG monitoring, and, where necessary, MRI.

When rehabilitation is possible

The center admits children with epilepsy when seizures are controlled. If seizures occur more than twice a month, rehabilitation cannot begin — this is a safety protocol: stimulating procedures increase the load on the nervous system and may provoke an increase in seizure frequency. In that case, treatment is first selected by a specialist neurologist, and as soon as the seizures are brought under control (remission or rare episodes), the center is ready to admit the child.

Severe active epilepsy with daily or weekly uncontrolled seizures is a contraindication to rehabilitation. Epileptiform activity on EEG without frequent seizures, however, is not a contraindication: it occurs in many children with neurological diagnoses — in this case the program is simply built more cautiously.

How a safe program is built

When there is epileptiform activity, procedures involving electrical current are completely excluded from the program — TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) and neuromuscular electrical stimulation — as well as stimulating medications. Other activating methods are introduced gradually, in small doses, and under physician supervision. The course begins with a gentle program and expands only when progress is stable.

Anticonvulsant therapy selected by the treating neurologist continues during the course: it must be reported to the center's physician, and where indicated, video EEG monitoring and blood tests for the medication's concentration are ordered.

Epilepsy as a comorbid diagnosis

Often epilepsy is not the only diagnosis: it accompanies cerebral palsy, the consequences of organic brain damage, and genetic syndromes. The specifics of rehabilitation in such cases are covered on a dedicated page — Epilepsy as a comorbid condition.