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What Causes Partial Seizures, Vision Of Flashing Colors And Fast Heart Rate?

Posted on Fri, 4 Jul 2014

Question: Hello; I am looking after a 21 year old quadriplegic. I recognize signs of partial or absence seizures in him but he denies anything. He says he sees flashing lights or colors and he has complained of smelling a burning smell that I could not find. He has also suffers from elevation of heart rate and complains of intense headaches. i have found him crying from the pain he has in his head neck and face. Could my suspicion be true and what can you suggest for his care? His gp cannot force him to seek further care.

Answered by Dr. Mukesh Chugh (51 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Needs eye examination to look for retina changes

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Thanks for posting
I really felt bad for the suffering he is going through,as he is quadriplegic he does not have any feel regarding the seizure which you feel he has.Regarding his seeing of flashes of light,he needs eye examination to rule out detachment of retina and Increase in heart rate and headache are because of loss of normal control of cardiac activities.
My suggestion for him-
1.Eye check up to rule out retina detachment and to look for sign of increase in intracranial pressure,as a cause of pain in head,face and neck region.
2.You may give him drug pregablin,phenyton after consultation with the treating doctor.
How is his respiration and blood pressure,please tell me in your reply.
Hope this helps and I shall be glad to answer any further query.
Take care
Dr.chugh

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Mukesh Chugh (14 hours later)

Thank you, doctor Chugh. I will take him for an eye examination. For his pain, I give him pain medication but if it doesn't help he goes to sleep through it.

I took his bp which was 86/54. His respiration looks like 12 breaths per minute.

What is the pregablin phenyton used for?

Answered by Dr. Mukesh Chugh (40 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Serious cervical spine injury leads to low BP

Detailed Answer:
Hi
It’s good to see you
After going through the whole discussion and your reply he has serious cervical spine injury. His low blood pressure is because of that and heart tries to raise the blood pressure by increasing heart rate.
The drug pregablin is tricyclic antidepressant and is used for neuropathic pain like in cervical spine injury/sciatica. To control seizure pheytoin is used.

If you have further query I shall be glad to answer them or you may close the present discussion.
God bless you.
Dr.chugh

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar