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Possible Seizure?

I have a friend who has been experiencing what he thinks are seizures. He is awakened by a complete body spasm where he rocks back and forth and screams. He is awake and aware that it's happening, yet has no control over it. He has been to the neurologist and has an MRI done every year. They can't seem find out whats wrong.

He is 21 and has been experiencing these episodes for the past 5-6 years. They only occur during sleep, where he is awakened when they begin. They don't occur every night but they are often and last normally from 5-10 minutes. He is otherwise healthy with no family history of the symptoms discussed. He also has no history of head trauma.

Any guesses?
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Avatar universal
hi,well the symptoms are not suggestive of seizures but more of hysterical(probable) attacks.

Although this disorder is common in females,but could be seen in males too.It is basically pschycological disorder with physical symptoms.

Please consider psychiatric evaluation too.

bye
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
hi,well the symptoms are not suggestive of seizures but more of hysterical(probable) attacks.

Although this disorder is common in females,but could be seen in males too.It is basically pschycological disorder with physical symptoms.

Please consider psychiatric evaluation too.

bye
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
hi,well the symptoms are not suggestive of seizures but more of hysterical(probable) attacks.

Although this disorder is common in females,but could be seen in males too.It is basically pschycological disorder with physical symptoms.

Please consider psychiatric evaluation too.

bye
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I think it's possible that these episodes are seizures.  He should seek out a neurologist who specializes in epilepsy (a general term applied when one has experienced 2 or more seizures).  My 15 yr. old son was diagnosed with epilepsy 3 yrs. ago and has been completely controlled on medication (no seizures) for 3 yrs., after having 6 major seizures.  During most of these he was unconscious, but there was one where his whole body stiffened and he couldn't speak and breathed heavy and snorted, but he was fully conscious and was even able to write down "why am I breathing like this?"  Some people only have nocturnal seizures also.  He should definitely not delay in finding an epileptologist who will follow this and diagnose it properly.  Often an MRI will be normal even when someone has epilepsy.  My son's first couple of MRIs were normal, but finally he had one which showed epileptic activity which enabled the doctor to more definitively diagnose him.  The doctor did not wait for the abnormal MRI however, to start anti-seizure medication.  If you don't know where to start, google National Epilepsy Foundation.
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Avatar universal
There not quite spasms.. his body just stiffens
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