Comprehensive Epilepsy Treatment Options in Louisville

With the highest designation as a Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Norton Neuroscience Institute is the epilepsy treatment destination for Louisville and Southern Indiana. Nuestros especialistas en epilepsia certificados están a la vanguardia del tratamiento de las convulsiones.

Treatments for epilepsy can include lifestyle and dietary changes, medication and surgery. Your custom epilepsy treatment plan will be based on several factors, including:

• Your health history
• Severity of symptoms
• The type of epilepsy you have
• Your age
• Whether you plan on having a baby

It is important to get treatment for epilepsy as soon as you are diagnosed. Let untreated, your seizures can get worse or happen more often over time. Many people with epilepsy can live seizure-free with treatment. 

Comprehensive Epilepsy Care

The National Association of Epilepsy Centers has designated Norton Neuroscience Institute as a Level 4 Comprehensive Epilepsy Center. Recibimos la acreditación del más alto nivel gracias a la experiencia y los conocimientos de nuestros proveedores con herramientas de diagnóstico complejas y la capacidad de realizar diversas cirugías para tratar la epilepsia.

Your multidisciplinary team includes the full range of medical professionals. They bring all their expertise to the table so you will have a 360-degree care plan tailored just to you. Our team includes specialists from:

• Epileptology – trained doctors who specialize in treating epilepsy
• Epilepsy neurology (noo-RAH-luh-jee) – doctors who focus on how the brain works and disorders of the brain
• Epilepsy neurosurgery – surgeons who are trained to operate on the brain
• Psychology – doctors who specialize in epilepsy neuropsychology who help manage your mental health
• Epilepsy advanced practice providers – nurses who have training in epilepsy care and monitoring
• Resource professionals – who can help with day-to-day coping with epilepsy, education and other supports for you and your family

Diagnosing Epilepsy

There are several different types of epilepsy, and everyone experiences epilepsy differently.

This disorder includes seizures and related symptoms that cause changes in awareness, muscle tone, emotions, behavior and sensory experience.

Epilepsy treatment starts with a careful assessment of your seizures. This might include:

• Medical and seizure history and neurological examination
• Neuroimaging: magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), positron emission tomography (PET), functional MRI (fMRI)
• Electroencephalogram (EEG), including outpatient video-EEG monitoring and long-term video-EEG monitoring
• Wada testing
• Neuropsychological, speech and hearing evaluations
• Terapia física y ocupacional
• Emotional and practical support resources for you and your caregivers

In some cases, you might need more in-depth monitoring and testing for your epilepsy. The Norton Neuroscience Institute’s Epilepsy Monitoring Unit helps your care team correctly diagnose your condition and begin treatment, including planning for surgery if needed.

Medication and Surgery for Epilepsy

Most people with epilepsy can become seizure-free by taking one anti-seizure medicine, which is also called anti-epileptic medicine. Others may be able to decrease the frequency and intensity of their seizures by taking a combination of medicines. It can be complex to find the right medication, or the right combination, in the right dosages. You may need to try a few different medications in different combinations before you find the treatment plan that works best for you.

For many people, medication is enough to control seizures.

About one-third of people with epilepsy are medication-resistant, meaning medication isn’t enough to control seizures or the side effects are too severe.  Epilepsy surgery may be an option for you if at least two different medications fail to control your seizures, or the side effects of the medications are life-altering.

Before recommending surgery, we will perform extensive testing including video monitoring at the Norton Brownsboro Epilepsy Monitoring Unit. El equipo clínico revisará los resultados con usted para determinar si podemos identificar el origen de sus convulsiones y si podemos operar sin dañar áreas clave del cerebro.

Epilepsy surgery options to control seizures include:

Resección del foco convulsivo

Using brain mapping both before surgery (preoperative) and during surgery (intraoperative), the surgeon will pinpoint and  remove the specific area of the brain that is causing seizures. This is the most common type of epilepsy surgery, and patients are often seizure-free after this procedure.

La cirugía cerebral mínimamente invasiva se traduce en incisiones pequeñas y una recuperación más rápida

Advances in minimally invasive surgery at Norton Neuroscience Institute mean patients have the opportunity to get precision surgery with fewer side effects The tiny incision required means less discomfort, less risk of postoperative infection and a faster recovery.

Sistema robótico ROSA

Our neurosurgeons use ROSA — a robotic technology that makes it possible to perform minimally invasive surgery — to map the safest route through the brain. . ROSA generates a three-dimensional map of your brain, so surgeons can see structures at any angle and any depth to address the source of your epilepsy.

With the image in hand, surgeons use ROSA’s robotic arm to thread tiny tools through holes the width of spaghetti noodles to the source of your seizures.

Ablación con láser

Our neurosurgeons also treat epilepsy seizures using heat energy. . They can use a real-time MRI to guide a tiny laser fiber through a  to the source of your seizures, precisely targeting abnormal brain tissue. The real-time MRI displays thermal maps support impressive accuracy in destroying the problem tissue while preserving healthy tissue.

Sistema de RNS NeuroPace

NeuroPace es el primer y único dispositivo que monitorea y responde continuamente a la actividad cerebral. After surgical placement, NeuroPace detects electrical patterns in the brain that could lead to a seizure. Then, the NeuroPace device delivers pulses of stimulation to stop seizures before you are aware. Typically you won’t even feel this neuromodulation happening. NeuroPace is recommended when evaluation for surgery shows that removing the source of your seizures has a risk of causing major problems with speaking, understanding or other abilities.

Estimulación del nervio vago

The vagus (VAY-gus) nerve is part of your autonomic (ah-toh-NAH-muhk) nervous system. This part of your nervous system controls the things your body does without you thinking about it, such as breathing, digesting food and sweating. The vagus nerve is part of the parasympathetic (peh-ruh-sim-pah-THET-ick) nervous system, which calms your body after you’ve been in a stressful situation.

A vagus nerve stimulator is a small battery-powered device that is implanted under the skin near the collarbone. It produces weak electrical signals that travel along the vagus nerve to the brain at regular intervals. Estas señales ayudan a prevenir las descargas eléctricas en el cerebro que provocan las convulsiones. Patients can send an extra signal from the vagus nerve stimulator if they feel a seizure coming on.

Vagus nerve stimulation is used when doctors can’t find the area of the brain causing the seizures.

Norton Neuroscience Institute offers a variety of treatments for epilepsy, including anti-seizure medications, epilepsy surgeries and devices to stop the seizures. Our goal is to manage your epilepsy and its symptoms. In some cases, epilepsy is a life-long disease. In others, seizures might stop with proper treatment. At Norton Neuroscience Institute we can create a customized care plan with the specialist epilepsy care, resources and treatment options that are right for your needs.

Atención que está centrada en usted

Parte del objetivo del Norton Neuroscience Institute consiste en atender a la persona en su totalidad, no solo a la afección.

• Norton Neuroscience Institute Resource Centers offer ways to improve your access to care, provide valuable information on managing your disease and address your quality of life issues. The Norton Healthcare Foundation funds this important service, so patients don’t need to pay.
• Dedicated patient navigators can help schedule follow-up appointments, coordinate prescription assistance, create customized diet plans and provide guidance on disability benefits, housing, financial and employment concerns and more.
• Patients can access support groups, exercise classes and other educational events to connect with others and learn how to make the most of life while managing a neurological condition. 
• Access an on-demand video library of educational content across a variety of condition-related topics is available.
• We want to help prevent illness. Get help quitting smoking and learn the signs of stroke.
• Communicate with your provider, manage appointments, refill prescriptions and more anytime from a computer or mobile device with a free Norton MyChart account.

Un líder de Louisville en atención neurológica

More patients from Louisville and Southern Indiana seek their neurology and neurosurgery care from Norton Neuroscience Institute’s nationally recognized specialists than any other providers in the area.

Your Norton Neuroscience Institute medical provider has the expertise, experience, diagnostic tools and sophisticated treatments to provide care tailored to your needs.

• More than 75 medical, surgical and research specialists are dedicated to providing innovative care to those with brain, spine and nervous system conditions.
• Advanced, minimally invasive neurosurgery equipment can speed your recovery and minimize pain.
• Multidisciplinary clinics provide easy access to care in one convenient appointment for your neurological condition, with specialists in oncology, cardiology, orthopedics and behavioral health.

• Norton Healthcare was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as high performing for stroke care, exceeding national averages.
• Norton Healthcare’s four adult-service hospitals in Louisville each were awarded a 2023 American Heart Association Get With the Guidelines – Stroke designation for stroke care. Norton Brownsboro Hospital received the highest possible award — Gold Plus.
• Norton Healthcare’s four adult-service hospitals in Louisville are certified by DNV.
  • Norton Brownsboro Hospital is recognized as a Comprehensive Stroke Center, representing the highest level of stroke care.
  • Norton Audubon Hospital is a Primary Stroke Center.
  • Norton Hospital is a Primary Stroke Center.
  • Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital is an Acute Stroke Ready Hospital.
• El programa de esclerosis múltiple (EM) del Norton Neuroscience Institute ha sido designado como centro para la atención integral de la EM por la National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
• The National Association of Epilepsy Centers has recognized Norton Neuroscience Institute Comprehensive Epilepsy Center as a level 4 epilepsy center, providing the highest level of medical and surgical evaluation and treatment for patients with complex epilepsy.
• Norton Hospital’s neurosurgical intensive care unit is recognized with a silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.
• Los orientadores del centro de recursos del Norton Neuroscience Institute ayudan a educar a los pacientes y sus familias sobre los nuevos diagnósticos, los tratamientos disponibles y las formas de controlar su enfermedad.
• We are listed by Becker’s Hospital Review as one of 100 great neurosurgery and spine programs.