# Seizures after Gamma Knife **URL:** \ **Category:** Gamma Knife Radiation\ **Created:** [August 15, 2026, 8:55am UTC](https://avmsurvivors.org/t/seizures-after-gamma-knife/32290 "2026-08-15T08:55:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![marieclaire12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@marieclaire12](https://avmsurvivors.org/u/marieclaire12)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2026, 8:55am UTC](https://avmsurvivors.org/t/seizures-after-gamma-knife/32290/1 "2026-08-15T08:55:56Z")
Hi I had Gamma Knife surgery two years ago after my AVM was discovered by seizure. I had 3 seizures in the months before gamma knife and then I had three seizures on the day immediately after the surgery. I’ve suffered with episodes/ auras sporadically since but my doctor said they are not full seizures so I was hoping to get my driving licence back. Unfortunately, out of nowhere over the weekend, I suffered another full seizure. Doctors/ Consultants vary in their reasoning for these reactions - some have said they are the brain reacting to gamma knife and it’s normal healing, one suggested I may be experiencing small bleeds that aren’t visible on scans, one said it could be a reaction to scar tissue. Has anyone experienced anything similar? I feel at a loss, no one seems to have a firm answer on what is happening to me and there seems no end in sight. The inability to drive is really affecting me, I feel like my life is on hold. I understood gamma knife to be the solution and that everything would be fine afterwards. I didn’t think that three years’ since diagnosis I’d still be in this position. There doesn’t seem to be any trigger to auras, seizures when they happen. Has anyone experienced anything similar, know if solutions or have worked out triggers for seizures? I’m on 3000mg of levitieracetem daily. Thanks for your support as always, Claire ---
**Author:** ![JD12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@JD12](https://avmsurvivors.org/u/JD12)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2026, 10:56am UTC](https://avmsurvivors.org/t/seizures-after-gamma-knife/32290/2 "2026-08-15T10:56:42Z")
I’m really sorry to hear this Claire. The whole seizure matter is always so challenging. For me, I had a bleed in May 2016 with left temporal AVM diagnosed. I had gamma knife in November 2016, and confirmed obliteration in February 2019. Then in January 2023 I had a seizure, lost my license and ended up with the 3000mg Keppra(easier to spell ha, ha) dosage as you are on. I have recently switched to brivaracetam which reduced some of my side effects but is expensive. I haven’t had recurrence of seizure. Mine is not attributed to any one factor with certainty but likely associated to an “artifact” where my AVM was. It was visible post bleed, and post obliteration and looks like a little spot on scan and was the damage caused by the bleed, and potentially some scar tissue due to GK. There is suspicion this was involved, but not certain. My neurologist believes I should remain on the medication for the rest of my life. No known trigger but was extremely busy with work, lacked sleep, and had been exercising intensely the morning of the event. I spent 6 months with no DL, but was fortunate to get it back. The challenges were immense, and somewhat life changing for sure. I had two children who did not drive and were involved in a lot of activities. For myself it was winter in Manitoba and I stayed at work by buying a “fat bike” to get to work. It wasn’t a lot of fun in extreme weather. I had a couple friends who helped when needed, and tried to limit the impact on my wife as much as possible. I guess that is really a long winded story of me, to say that the brain is so unique that it is very difficult ti get a definitive “anything”. There are so many factors that impact seizures, and with the AVM and Gamma are two more that can contribute. There may be a specific cause or a collection of “casual” factors that are causing the activity, we are just unofotunate to have more of these factors than most people. Take Care, John. ---
**Author:** ![Anne2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de0a6/32.png) [@Anne2k](https://avmsurvivors.org/u/Anne2k)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2026, 6:56pm UTC](https://avmsurvivors.org/t/seizures-after-gamma-knife/32290/3 "2026-08-15T18:56:35Z")
That really is awful when you felt you were finally free. I was on track for gamma knife and even scheduled for one. I was pulled aside by the chief neurosurgeon in the group where I am and given a second consult (that I very much did not want at the time) and he explained to me in good detail that the fact that I was having simple partial seizures before treatment means that I’d likely have them after GK. He said surgery is significantly better in reducing or eliminating seizures in the long run. I thought he was just trying to scare me about it because NO ONE told me that in the 30 days while waiting for GK or when they brought GK to me to begin with. I looked at the peer reviewed research on it and he was absolutely right. The instances of continued seizures is significantly higher when treated with GK versus removal. I don’t say this to scare you but I think you have some room for discussion with the providers about not fully disclosing this fact. They need to take your issues seriously and get to the bottom of it if this is the path they took you down. I’d tell them they brought you here, so now it can’t be “maybe microbleeds” without getting to the real bottom of it. I also wanted to offer the advice that it may be that it’s a life long condition for you. How you handle it today and tomorrow is just as important as waiting for it all to go away. I mean this to say, what helped for me is to be connect to my perspective on things. I remind myself that residuals are there, but also, I’m alive without rupture. I was so frightened heading in to surgery that I promised myself if I made it through that, I’d be happy to work the rest of the bumps in the road out. It’s helped me deal with the healing process SO MUCH better than I would have before all of this. Either way, good luck to you! Anne ---
**Author:** ![AndyH](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/avmsurvivors.org/andyh/32/14678_2.png) [@AndyH](https://avmsurvivors.org/u/AndyH)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 11:55am UTC](https://avmsurvivors.org/t/seizures-after-gamma-knife/32290/4 "2026-08-17T11:55:41Z")
Hi Marie Claire I had a similar situation last year, had an AVM removed from front temporal lobe in 2017 and was on keppra (various doses) ever since and eventually my seizures calmed down then when i was given the green light to apply for my licence back i had a seizure out of the blue last March, which put paid to driving! Since then i have got a new Neurologist - my other one went back to Greece and my new one has altered my meds to 3 grammes of Keppra a day and no more seizures, i was also taking carbamazepine at the time which my new Neurologist stopped. I am hoping to reapply for my licence again, i think you just need to stick at it and try to keep on an even keel. Good luck, also from Yorkshire - Leeds Andy ---
**Author:** ![Nicholas](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/avmsurvivors.org/nicholas/32/4462_2.png) [@Nicholas](https://avmsurvivors.org/u/Nicholas)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2026, 12:39pm UTC](https://avmsurvivors.org/t/seizures-after-gamma-knife/32290/5 "2026-08-17T12:39:02Z")
I had Keppra before my AVM was removed and still have it now (more than 10 years later). I may not have ever had a seizure though - definitely not a tonic clonic. When I returned home from my AVM removal I had my first aura though. I got them randomly a hand full of times each year for 2-3 years and then they went away. I probably haven’t had one in a decade. Perhaps it is part of the brains long term healing? Due to abnormalities seen in EEGs I will always be on Keppra so the risk of a seizure remains.