A Few Questions about Epilepsy & Brain Injury

[dualdis3]

1. I had a head injury in 1975, requiring several stitches, open scalp wound, blunt force trauma. When, I started having seizure-like symptoms 6 months later, the military medical department claimed there was no corlation between head injuries and Epilepsy.  Why did they not know back during the late 70's about head injury causing Epilepsy in most people?

2. After getting my second head injury 1977 on the same spot on top of my head right side. I once again, recieved blunt force trauma, open scalp wound, requiring several stitches again. I was having Complex Partial Seizures but, again the US Army Medical Department continue to say there was no corlation between head injury and Epilepsy. Why would the Neurology Department say that head injuries do not cause Epilepsy or seizures?

3. In 1981, I was walking up some cement stairways, carring a heavy steele type writer.  I suddenly had a momentary black out, vision went black.  I fell face down on top of the typewriter.  I broke my pinky finger left hand and recieved a left Temperal Lobe punture wound on my right Temple.  Again, I was told that there was still no corlation between head injury and Epilepsy.  This was in 1981, why would the Neurology Department in the US Army Hospital system not know the corlation between head injury and Seizure Disorders?

[dualdis3]

Dear Sir,

I would have to agree with you in your conclusion if it was not for other facts in the case before you.
After each accident, I was only given stitches and sent back to duty. I informed the military doctors that each time, I got hit over the top of the head, I was knocked out. The first time in 1975, I do not know for sure how long I was knocked out and lay on the floor.
In the second hit over the head in the very same spot as two years preiviously.  Witness said, I lay there on the ground for about 20 minutes before setting up., I lost allot of blood, too.  I was 30 miles from the nearest phone or help.  I was the only person whom could drive at the time. Once, I was off the ground, I put direct pressure over the wound with my right hand.
I drove back down a long stwisted road off the side of a mountain. During the drive,  I pasted out another two times at least getting to the hospital. Once there, I have no memory of ever driving into the parking lot.  I was given 5 stitches on top of my head again in 1977. I was given no x-rays, no cat scans, no MRI in either of the above cases.

In 1989, I was carring a very heavy steel type writer up a long group of cement steps.  I suddenly felt light headed and blacked out for a few seconds.  I fell face down on top of the heavy type writer and down the stairs at the same time.  The right side of my head and face was jammed into the steel type writer.  I broke my little pinky finger left hand. I was rushed off to the hospital.  There the doctor pointed out to the others that the right temples was in need of imediate treatment. Blood was coming out the side of my head and draining down my right shirt sleeve. My right temple area was numb to the touch. I received two stitches that time. Again, I never was given a X-Ray,no MRI, no Cat-Scan. of anykind.
1989 I was diagnosed by the Western Neurology Group as having Complex Partial Seizure resulting in previous head injuries after reading my military record reports.

To this very down the VA Administration will not accept their finding or accept the US Army Doctor reports.  I remain without treatments of any kind for Epilepsy or Anxiety 1975 to present time.
PS.  The top of my head where I received the three injuries has stayed numb to the touch in a 4 inch circle around my wounds since, the day of my first head injury.

[PaulMD]

Hi there.

The correlation between head injury and the development of seizure disorders is not consistent.  If brain injuries happen in infancy or at a very young age, then this may indeed have a bearing in the future development of seizures (but still, not all will have seizure disorders).  Acquiring a head trauma that causes definitive cerebral contusion or anatomic brain abnormality may give rise to future sezires but blut force traumas causing concussions do not consistently do so.