Epilepsy
Is epilepsy a disability?
Is epilepsy a disability?
Epilepsy is a disability or condition that is unique to the individual. Some will have it their whole lives, but for others, it may be just for a short period. Anyone with the condition will likely need epilepsy medication used for pain relief and to prevent seizures.
For many people with epilepsy, seizures become controlled and manageable thanks to medication. However, others may find their seizures harder to control or may not respond to treatment. For them, daily life may be a struggle.
Whether or not someone’s epilepsy is a disability can be a slightly murky area, and is down to an expert to decide.
It is only considered a disability when it greatly affects someone’s ability to do everyday activities (such as concentrating or remembering things), over a long period.
Epilepsy is sometimes described as a hidden disability because it is not usually obvious that someone has the condition unless they have a seizure.
Epilepsy medication used for pain relief
Since 2018 medical cannabis is now legal in the UK. This means that in some circumstances, specialist doctors may prescribe it to treat epilepsy.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends what medicines should be given to patients by doctors on the NHS.
For certain types of epilepsy, such as Dravet or Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome, this may include medical cannabis.
Anti-seizure medications (anticonvulsants) were originally designed to treat people with epilepsy. But the nerve-calming qualities of some of these medications can also help quiet the burning, stabbing, or shooting pain often caused by nerve damage.
Medical cannabis has now been shown to help with not only seizures but pain relief itself as well. The symptoms of epilepsy are far-reaching and can affect much of a person’s daily life.
Treatments such as Epidyolex and other medical cannabis supplements can counter many of the symptoms at once.
