A movement disorder called dystonia results in the muscles contracting against their will. Twisting or repetitive movements may result from this.
Your body may be affected in one area (focal dystonia), two or more nearby areas (segmental dystonia), or every area (general dystonia). There are different degrees of muscle spasms. They could hurt and make it difficult for you to carry out your regular duties.
Although there isn’t a treatment, therapy and medication can help with symptoms. In patients with severe dystonia, surgery may be used to disable or regulate nerves or specific brain regions.
Symptoms
Different people are affected by dystonia in different ways. Muscle cramps could:
Start with one particular area, like your arm, neck, or leg. After the age of 21, focal type typically first affects the neck, arms, or face. It usually stays focused or splits into segments.
- Transpire when performing a particular task, like handwriting.
- Become worse with worry, exhaustion, or tension.
- Become increasingly apparent with time.
The following body parts may be impacted:
- Cervical dystonia in the neck. Your head may twist and turn to one side, or it may pull forward or backward during a contraction, which may hurt.
- Lids of the eyes. Blepharospasms, or rapid blinking or spasms, cause your eyes to close, impairing your vision. Although most spasms are not painful, they may become more frequent when you’re in bright light, reading, watching TV, stressed out, or around other people. You may experience gritty, dry, or light-sensitive eyes.
- Tongue (oromandibular dystonia) or jaw. You may drool, have trouble chewing or swallowing, and have slurred speech.
- Painful oromandibular dystonia frequently coexists with blepharospasm or cervical dystonia.
- The vocal cords and voice box (laryngeal dystonia). Your voice could sound raspy or tight.
- The forearm and hand. Certain types, like writer’s dystonia or musician’s dystonia, are limited to occurring during repetitive activities, like writing or playing a particular musical instrument. Usually, when your arm is at rest, no symptoms occur.
Causes
It is unknown what causes it specifically. However, it may entail modifications to the way that nerve cells in various brain regions communicate with one another. It can run in families in certain cases.
It may also be a sign of one of the following illnesses or conditions:
- Parkinson’s illness
- The disease Huntington’s
- Wilson’s illness
- Traumatic brain damage
- Birth trauma
- A stroke
- Brain tumors or specific conditions known as paraneoplastic syndromes that arise in certain cancer patients
- Lack of oxygen or poisoning from carbon monoxide
- Infections like encephalitis or tuberculosis
- Heavy metal poisoning or reactions to specific medications
Diagnosis
Your doctor may begin by asking about your medical history and performing a physical examination in order to diagnose dystonia.
Your provider may advise the following to find out if any underlying conditions are contributing to your symptoms:
Testing with blood or urine. These tests can identify symptoms of other illnesses or of toxins.
CT or MRI scan. These imaging tests can detect brain abnormalities like tumors, lesions, or stroke-related evidence.
Electrocardiogram (EMG). Muscle electrical activity is measured by this test.
Genetic examination. There are specific genes linked to certain types of dystonia. Finding out if you carry these genes can help direct your care.
