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what does not intractable epilepsy mean

by Andreane Volkman Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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What Is Intractable Epilepsy? Intractable epilepsy is when seizures can't be completely controlled by medicines. (Intractable means "not easily managed or relieved.") It's also called refractory, uncontrolled, or drug-resistant epilepsy.

Full Answer

Is it possible to have epilepsy and not know it?

So, yes, it is possible for awhile. For a while yes. If you have simple partial motor seizures or seizures with mainly GI symptoms you may not recognize them—also simple tingling. Please if you have any concerns for yourself or another—see a neurologist and get a work-up 8 clever moves when you have $1,000 in the bank.

What is epilepsy unspecified not intractable without status epilepticus?

G40.909 is a billable diagnosis code used to specify a medical diagnosis of epilepsy, unspecified, not intractable, without status epilepticus. The code G40.909 is valid during the fiscal year 2021 from October 01, 2020 through September 30, 2021 for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions.

What is the prognosis for epilepsy?

Usually, epilepsy is a fairly benign condition. Most epilepsies have a good prognosis for full seizure control and eventual discontinuation of AEDs, but epilepsy syndromes have differing outcomes and responses to treatment.

Is epilepsy curable or not?

The doctor explained that epilepsy is a common and curable disease, and that in the US almost 3.5 million people are affected with epilepsy. “We need to believe that epilepsy is an organic disease;...

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What does not intractable mean?

1 : not easily governed, managed, or directed intractable problems. 2 : not easily relieved or cured intractable pain.

What is epilepsy unspecified not intractable with status epilepticus?

Epilepsy, unspecified, not intractable A group of disorders marked by problems in the normal functioning of the brain. These problems can produce seizures, unusual body movements, a loss of consciousness or changes in consciousness, as well as mental problems or problems with the senses.

What is intractable vs not intractable?

What is a not intractable migraine? An intractable migraine causes severe pain that extends beyond 72 hours and usually requires a hospital visit for treatment. Comparatively, a not intractable migraine typically lasts up to 72 hours and can be treated with migraine medications.

What makes a seizure intractable?

Medicine often helps control epilepsy. If a child's seizures still happen after taking two seizure medications, the epilepsy is called “intractable.” Doctors sometimes call this condition as “uncontrolled epilepsy” or “drug-resistant epilepsy.”

When is epilepsy considered intractable?

What Is Intractable Epilepsy? Intractable epilepsy is when seizures can't be completely controlled by medicines. (Intractable means "not easily managed or relieved.") It's also called refractory, uncontrolled, or drug-resistant epilepsy.

Can intractable epilepsy be cured?

Can it be cured? Intractable epilepsy does not always remain intractable. First, one of the treatments listed below may prove effective. Second, individuals may be able to modify precipitating factors or their lifestyle to help to control the seizures.

What does intractable mean in medical terms?

Intractable essentially means difficult to treat or manage. This type of pain isn't curable, so the focus of treatment is to reduce your discomfort. The condition is also known as intractable pain disease, or IP.

What is an example of intractable?

The definition of intractable is not easily controlled or hard to work. An example of intractable used as an adjective is an intractable clay which means clay that is difficult to shape. Difficult to mold or manipulate.

How common is drug-resistant epilepsy?

This condition is also referred to as intractable, medically refractory, or pharmacoresistant epilepsy. As many as 20 to 40 percent of patients with epilepsy (roughly 400,000 people living in the United States) are likely to have refractory epilepsy.

How long does it take for partial epilepsy to become intractable?

Intractability was defined in two ways: (1) 2 drugs failed, 1 seizure/month, on average, for 18 months (stringent), and (2) failure of 2 drugs. Delayed intractability was defined as 3 or more years after epilepsy diagnosis.

What is the best epilepsy medication?

March 22, 2007 - Lamictal is the best first-choice drug for partial epilepsy, while valproic acid is the best first choice for generalized epilepsy, two major clinical trials show.

What are the 4 types of seizures?

There are four main types of epilepsy: focal, generalized, combination focal and generalized, and unknown. A doctor generally diagnoses someone with epilepsy if they have had two or more unprovoked seizures. Medication is the most common treatment, and two-thirds of adults with epilepsy live seizure-free because of it.

What is the difference between epilepsy and status epilepticus?

If you have epilepsy, you may have seizures repeatedly. A seizure that lasts longer than 5 minutes, or having more than 1 seizure within a 5 minutes period, without returning to a normal level of consciousness between episodes is called status epilepticus.

Can you recover from status epilepticus?

Most seizures last less than 5 minutes. But sometimes they don't stop there – or they come one after the other, giving the person suffering from them no chance to recover. “Status epilepticus” literally means a continuous state of seizure.

What happens if status epilepticus is left untreated?

Status epilepticus (SE) is considered a neurological emergency. Left untreated (or undertreated), prolonged seizures can cause permanent neurological injury or death. Rapid treatment must be initiated. If initial agents fail, it may be necessary to induce an iatrogenic coma.

What is the prognosis of status epilepticus?

Status epilepticus (SE) is a neurological emergency, with a short term mortality of 7–39%.

What Is Intractable Epilepsy?

About one-third of people with epilepsy will eventually develop intractable epilepsy. This means that medicines do not work well, or at all, to control the seizures.

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What is the goal of treatment for intractable epilepsy?

The goal of treatment for intractable epilepsy, like epilepsy in general, is to manage seizures.

What is refractory epilepsy?

Intractable (or refractory) epilepsy occurs when AEDs fail to improve the severity or frequency of seizures. It’s diagnosed after you’ve tried at least two AEDs (alone or together) without positive results.

What to do if AEDs don't help with seizures?

If AEDs don’t improve your seizures, ask for a referral to a comprehensive epilepsy center where medical professionals have special training in diagnosing and treating intractable epilepsy.

What is the first line of treatment for epilepsy?

The first line of treatment is antiepilepsy drugs (AEDs). But for some people, AEDs are unable to control their seizures. This is known as intractable epilepsy.

What happens when you have epilepsy surgery?

During brain surgery for epilepsy, your surgeon removes the part of the brain where seizures are happening.

How many people have epilepsy?

Epilepsy is common. More than 70 million people in the world have it. Of these people, approximately 30 to 40 percent have intractable epilepsy.

What is the name of the neurological disorder that causes recurring seizures?

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that causes recurring seizures. A seizure is a sudden, abnormal change in the brain’s electrical activity. This causes temporary symptoms like twitching, loss of consciousness, or blank staring.

What can be considered when someone with epilepsy is not taking medication?

When medications do not work, then non-medication therapy for the epilepsy can be considered, including epilepsy surgery or vagal nerve stimulation.

What is the success rate of epilepsy surgery?

Success rates for cessation or near-cessation of seizures ranges from about 50-90%, depending upon the cause of seizures and their brain location. Epilepsy surgery is elective surgery, meaning that it is a matter of personal choice, not necessity.

Is epilepsy intractable?

Intractable epilepsy does not always remain intractable. First, one of the treatments listed below may prove effective. Second, individuals may be able to modify precipitating factors or their lifestyle to help to control the seizures. But even in the absence of specific therapies or life changes, there is hope for improvement for spontaneous regression which is reported to occur in about 5% of patients with this condition.

How long does epilepsy last?

Intractable epilepsy may last a lifetime. This can lead to many long-term issues. Your child may have:

What is it called when a child has two seizures?

When a person has had two or more seizures, it is called epilepsy . Medicine often helps control epilepsy . If a child’s seizures still happen when taking two types of seizure medicine, their epilepsy is called intractable (uncontrolled). There is no way to know which child will respond to medicine.

Can epilepsy be intractable?

There is no single cause of intractable epilepsy. It is often hard for the doctor to pinpoint the cause without testing or surgery. There are a few factors that may play a part in epilepsy turning into intractable epilepsy:

Can seizure medicine be changed?

Their seizure medicine may stay the same or it may be changed. The doctor will check their medicine and make changes if needed.

What is known as intractable epilepsy?

Untreatable: About 60% of seizures are controlled by one medication 20% with more than one med, 10% with surgery, but fewer than 10% do not respond to any measures... Read More

What is epilepsy?

Risk for seizures: Epilepsy is a clinical condition of a risk for seizures. Most common is symptomatic epilepsy in which a scar focus or metabolic disorder or genetic ... Read More

What is the risk of seizures?

Risk for seizures: Epilepsy is a clinical condition of a risk for seizures. Most common is symptomatic epilepsy in which a scar focus or metabolic disorder or genetic ... Read More

How many seizures are controlled by one medication?

Untreatable: About 60% of seizures are controlled by one medication 20% with more than one med, 10% with surgery, but fewer than 10% do not respond to any measures ... Read More

What happens if you have a seizure while pregnant?

See an Obstetrician: If you had a seizure during late pregnancy you most likely have preeclampsia which can be a serious complication. You need your blood pressure checked... Read More

What does "unspecified" mean in a diagnosis?

Unspecified: It basically means it hasn't been defined in your charting. I would ask the neurologist who made your diagosis if he/she can clarify if its grand mal ... Read More

Is brain calcification a cause of epilepsy?

You may have answer: Brain calcification always has some causation, and these deposits may well be the nidus for your epilepsy. Since such areas could be due to metabolic ... Read More

What is intractable epilepsy?

Intractable epilepsy is a seizure disorder in which a patient’s seizures fail to come under control with treatment. These seizures are sometimes also called “uncontrolled” or “refractory.”. It is important to ask the provider to clarify whether the patient has had a seizure or epilepsy (seizure disorder).

Is a seizure a single occurrence?

Although the two terms are often used simultaneously, a seizure (which is a single occurrence) is different than epilepsy (which is defined as two or more unprovoked seizures). The term intractable (or "uncontrolled" or "refractory to medication") would only apply to patients with epilepsy or "seizure disorder".

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What Do I have?

  • Normal epilepsy drugs may not work well for many reasons, including: 1. The seizures simply become stronger than the medication when given at medically safe dosage. 2. Poor compliance with medication (missing doses) 3. Complicating factors, such as extreme stress, sleep deprivat…
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What Does It do?

Can It Be Cured?

What Caused It?

How Is It Treated?

1.Intractable Epilepsy: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Url:https://www.verywellhealth.com/intractable-epilepsy-4174278

14 hours ago  · If AEDs are unable to control your seizures, it’s called intractable epilepsy. It occurs when AEDs fail to work, stop working, or cause side effects that make it …

2.Intractable Epilepsy | Stanford Health Care

Url:https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-conditions/brain-and-nerves/intractable-epilepsy.html

33 hours ago If a child’s seizures still happen after taking two seizure medications, the epilepsy is called “intractable.”. Doctors sometimes call this condition as “uncontrolled epilepsy” or “drug-resistant epilepsy.”. About 30 percent of children who have epilepsy …

3.Intractable Epilepsy: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, …

Url:https://www.healthline.com/health/epilepsy/intractable-epilepsy

23 hours ago Unspecified: It basically means it hasn't been defined in your charting. I would ask the neurologist who made your diagosis if he/she can clarify if its grand mal... Read More. 2.4k views Reviewed >2 years ago. Thank. Dr. Evan Altman and 4 doctors agree.

4.Intractable Epilepsy - Conditions - For Patients - UR …

Url:https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/neurosurgery/services/conditions/intractable-epilepsy.aspx

11 hours ago  · Intractable epilepsy is a seizure disorder in which a patient’s seizures fail to come under control with treatment. These seizures are sometimes also called “uncontrolled” or “refractory.” It is important to ask the provider to clarify whether the patient has had a seizure or epilepsy (seizure disorder).

5.Intractable Epilepsy | Causes, Types, Symptoms

Url:https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/health/i/intractable-epilepsy

15 hours ago What does the difference between intractable and non-intractable means? Epilepsy is a condition in which seizures cannot be controlled with medication. (It’s also known as refractory, uncontrolled, or drug-resistant epileptic seizures because it’s difficult to manage or relieve.)

6.Epilepsy unspecified without intractable epilepsy

Url:https://www.healthtap.com/q/epilepsy-unspecified-without-intractable-epilepsy/

18 hours ago Learning and development problems in children: Drug-resistant seizures that begin early in life are associated with high rates of learning problems and intellectual disability. Epilepsy-related injury. Increased risk of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) Increased risk of emotional and behavioral problems.

7.Wiki - Intractable vs. not intractable | Medical Billing and …

Url:https://www.aapc.com/discuss/threads/intractable-vs-not-intractable.130579/

26 hours ago That adds up to about 400,000 people in the United States. You may also hear drug-resistant epilepsy called refractory, uncontrolled, or intractable epilepsy. 1,2. What is drug-resistant epilepsy? The International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) sets the standards for epilepsy treatment. The ILAE says someone has drug-resistant epilepsy if they tried 2 anti-seizure drugs …

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