I have a friend who told me about 2 weeks ago that she was having these weird symptoms. So, of course I bite and say what’s going on. She proceeds to tell me about a heating sensation starting at her foot, moving up her leg, trunk of her body and arm. States it had happened twice and she could time it. Then, on the third occasion she had the same symptoms but, also a prickling, pin and needle like sensation. So, I proceed to ask about other symptoms and history and tell her this sounds neurological and she should call her doctor the next day and if it happened again to go to an Emergency Department. So, that night her daughter calls to say her mom had the same things but, this time it also went up her neck and into her head and was accompanied by a squeezing sensation. She had her sons take her to a local urgent care center where they triaged her and sent her to the hospital via ambulance. Doctor told them she is having Jacksonian Seizures. Huh? Never heard of that one before? Me either. CT scan showed abnormal area in brain which they initially believed to be a tumor. She was admitted and had MRI and full body scans. Negative body scan results. Yeah! MRI showed not a tumor but a spindle shaped aneurysm in the brain with surrounding swelling and bleeding. So, neurosurgeon says in a delicate area but, no active bleeding and is surgical. He did a great job of explaining including visual presentation to family the surgery. Recovery plan, risks. etc Surgery went well, minimal blood loss, 3 clips and sutures at anastomosed area and flap. We are on day 2 of recovery and she has been moved to a regular room, catheter removed, and eating soft diet. She is in good spirits, memory, and sense of humor there. Quite a bit of pain, increased with movement even, chewing hurts but, otherwise going well and we expect a full recovery. Jacksonian Seizures are a type of partial seizure in which there is no change in consciousness. Patients may experience weakness, numbness, and unusual smells or tastes. Twitching of the muscles or limbs, turning the head to the side, paralysis, visual changes, or vertigo may occur. When the symptoms spread slowly from one part of the body to another, this "epileptic march" has been termed jacksonian epilepsy (first described by Hughlings Jackson).
So, yes even though neurology is not my practice area. I knew enough to not blow it off as nothing. So, again today I am glad I am a nurse and I still have my dear friend.
Kudos to the doctors, nursing staff, and l volunteers at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital Woodlands and Main Campus in Houston, Texas.