Mumbai, Feb 19th: A 71-year-old woman, who had remained almost unresponsive for over 45 days due to a rare neurological condition, regained speech and awareness after receiving specialised treatment at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mumbai Central. She was diagnosed with non-convulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) — a continuous seizure state without visible convulsions — a condition that is often difficult to detect and can be life-threatening if untreated.
The patient had been experiencing gradual neurological decline for several months, including slowed movements, tremors, and progressive loss of speech. Doctors had initially considered differing diagnoses, including Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy, leading to multiple changes in treatment but no clear improvement.
Concerned by her worsening condition, her family sought advanced neurological care in Mumbai. Shortly after arrival, the patient developed repeated brief episodes where her eyes deviated to one side, her right arm stiffened, and she became momentarily frozen. She was initially admitted to another hospital and started on anti-epileptic drugs, but her condition continued to deteriorate. As her responsiveness declined further, she was urgently shifted to Wockhardt Hospitals, Mumbai Central.
On arrival, the neurology team identified that the patient was in non-convulsive status epilepticus — a state where the brain remains in constant seizure activity despite the absence of dramatic physical symptoms. She was almost entirely unresponsive, with no purposeful movements or meaningful speech.
“Non-convulsive status epilepticus is particularly challenging because it does not present with obvious seizures,” said Dr Prashant Makhija, Consultant Neurologist at Wockhardt Hospitals. “Although the body appears calm, the brain is continuously seizing, which can cause serious and permanent damage if not recognised in time.”
Repeated electroencephalogram (EEG) tests revealed persistent abnormal electrical activity, predominantly on the left side of her brain. A detailed review of her medical history confirmed the presence of both epilepsy and Parkinsonism — conditions that had not been optimally managed earlier due to fragmented care.
The neurology team optimised her anti-epileptic medications, carefully adjusted therapy for Parkinson’s disease, and placed her under continuous neurological monitoring. For several weeks, there was little visible improvement, and the family remained by her side throughout the prolonged and uncertain recovery period.
After nearly 45 days, the first signs of improvement appeared. The patient began opening her eyes with purpose and responding to verbal cues. Gradually, she started communicating with doctors and caregivers — and even began singing her prayers, something she had been unable to do for weeks.
Her cognition continued to improve steadily. With physiotherapy and rehabilitation, she regained enough strength to stand and take a few assisted steps. Her sleep cycle normalised, and her ability to speak and interact returned.
“Watching her regain speech and awareness after such a prolonged silent seizure state was remarkable,” Dr Makhija said. “This case highlights the critical importance of timely diagnosis and specialised neurocritical care in complex seizure disorders.”
The patient was discharged fully alert, communicative, and responsive. Her family plans to return home after a short stay.
The case underscores Wockhardt Hospitals’ expertise in managing rare neurological emergencies through precise diagnosis, sustained multidisciplinary care, and advanced neurocritical support offering hope in situations where outcomes are often uncertain.