Dystonia: Causes, Types, Symptoms, and Treatments

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DYSTONIA

• Causes Symptoms Treatments

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Introduction To Dystonia

• Dystonia is a Neurological Movement Disorder that
  causes muscles to contract and spasm
  involuntarily causing pain, tremors, twisting and
  other uncontrollable movements. Dystonia can
  affect any part of the body including the arms,
  legs, neck, eyelids, face or vocal cords.
  Dystonia has no cure!

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Causes of Dystonia

• There aren't any specific, identifiable causes of
  this condition. However, it is believed that this
  condition might be linked to damage to the basal
  ganglia, which is the part of the brain that is
  responsible for muscle contractions.

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Symptoms of Dystonia

• The symptoms depend upon the area of the body
  that is affected by involuntary muscle cramp
  (muscle contraction).
• Eyelids. Rapid blinking or involuntary spasms
  causing your eyes to close (blepharospasms) can
  make you functionally blind. Spasms usually
  aren't painful, but might increase when you're in
  bright light, under stress or interacting with
  people. Your eyes might feel dry.
• Hand and forearm. Some types of dystonia occur
  only while you do a repetitive activity, such as
  writing (writer's dystonia) or playing a specific
  musical instrument (musician's dystonia).

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Symptoms Continue

• Voice box and vocal cords (spasmodic dystonia).
  You might have a tight or whispering voice.
• Neck This is also categorized in focal type. It
  is characterised by intense spasms of the neck
  muscles. It is also called cervical dystonia.
  Here the symptoms include twisting and trunking
  of the head to one side so violently that it may
  cause tremendous pain. Also, the head might move
  forward or backward involuntarily.

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Symptoms Continue

• Jaw or tongue (oromandibular dystonia). You might
  experience slurred speech, drooling, and
  difficulty chewing or swallowing. Oromandibular
  dystonia can be painful and often occurs in
  combination with cervical dystonia or
  blepharospasms.
• Face When the muscles of one side of the face
  suffer spasm, the condition is referred to as
  hemifacial spasm. This is also classified under
  the focal type. It seems to worsen under stress
  and fatigue.

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Treatments of Dystonia

• A trial of low dose Levo Dopa (62.5mg-100mg) 2-3
  times daily is warranted
• High doses of Benzhexol (Artane) Start with
  4-5mg/day and increase to 80
• Tetrabenazine and Pimozide/Haloperidol
• Baclofen
• Clonazepam and Diazepam
• Botox
• Deep Brain stimulation

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Diagnosis of Dystonia

• To diagnose dystonia, your doctor will start with
  a medical history and physical examination.
• To determine if underlying conditions are causing
  your symptoms, your doctor might recommend
• Blood or urine tests. These tests can reveal
  signs of toxins or of other conditions.
• MRI or CT scan. These imaging tests can identify
  abnormalities in your brain, such as tumors,
  lesions or evidence of a stroke.
• Electromyography (EMG). This test measures the
  electrical activity within muscles.

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