What is dystonia Musculorum Deformans?
A condition characterized by focal DYSTONIA that progresses to involuntary spasmodic contractions of the muscles of the legs, trunk, arms, and face. The hands are often spared, however, sustained axial and limb contractions may lead to a state where the body is grossly contorted.
What is the most common type of dystonia?
Cervical dystonia, also called spasmodic torticollis or torticollis, is the most common of the focal dystonias. The muscles in the neck that control the position of the head are affected, causing the head to turn to one side or to be pulled forward or backward.
How is dystonia classified?
Dystonia is classified by three main factors: the age at which symptoms develop; the areas of the body affected; and the underlying cause. The chance that dystonia will affect multiple body parts is generally linked to the age of onset. The younger one is at onset, the greater the chance that symptoms will spread.
What diseases are associated with dystonia?
Dystonia also can be a symptom of another disease or condition, including:
- Parkinson’s disease.
- Huntington’s disease.
- Wilson’s disease.
- Traumatic brain injury.
- Birth injury.
- Stroke.
- Brain tumor or certain disorders that develop in some people with cancer (paraneoplastic syndromes)
What is Hemi dystonia?
Hemidystonia refers to dystonia which involves the ipsilateral face, arm, and leg. In most cases, a contralateral structural lesion of the basal ganglia or thalamus can be demonstrated by neuroimaging.
Can anxiety cause dystonia?
However, psychogenic dystonia can occur with or without psychological symptoms. Furthermore, other forms of dystonia are often accompanied by psychological symptoms such as anxiety and depression.
Can cervical dystonia go away?
There is no cure for cervical dystonia. The disorder sometimes resolves without treatment, but sustained remissions are uncommon. Injecting botulinum toxin into the affected muscles often reduces the signs and symptoms of cervical dystonia.
What is multifocal dystonia?
Multifocal dystonia involves two or more noncontiguous body regions while involvement of two or more contiguous body regions is referred to as segmental dystonia. In regard to etiology, dystonia can be divided into primary (idiopathic, hereditary) and secondary (symptomatic) dystonia.
What are the different types of dystonia?
Focal Dystonia: In this type of dystonia,only a specific body part is affected.
Does dystonia shorten one’s lifespan?
In the overwhelming majority of people with dystonia, it does not shorten life expectancy or result in death. In very severe generalized dystonia that affects many body areas, there can be problems that arise secondary to the dystonia that may cause life-threatening conditions. However, these instances are quite rare and usually treatable.
What does dystonia feel like?
The symptoms of dystonia may include foot cramps, turning or dragging of the foot, worsening of handwriting, neck movements, rapid eye blinking or closing, various muscle tremors and sometimes difficulty with speaking; the symptoms may become more noticeable when the individual is tired or under stress.
Can dystonia be cured?
There is currently no cure for dystonia. The treatments that are offered help to relieve the spasms. The type of treatment will vary depending on the type of dystonia. Focal dystonias – like writer’s cramp – are best treated with an injection of botulinum toxin. Botulinum toxin is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum.