What is Dystonia
Dystonia is a condition that makes your muscles contract without warning (muscle spasms). It can make doing everyday tasks hard. There are different forms of dystonia.
The condition can affect just one part of your body, or it can affect larger areas of your body. Dystonia affects people in different ways. In some people, it is mild and goes away over time, while others may need treatment.
It can cause unwanted, uncomfortable jerking of muscle groups. This condition is rarely life threatening.
Although there is no cure for dystonia, you can manage the condition with treatment.
What are the causes?
Dystonia may be caused by:
- Genetics. This means you inherited the genes that cause you to be at risk for dystonia.
- An abnormality in the part of your brain that controls movement (basal ganglia).
Dystonia may also be acquired. If you have acquired dystonia, you developed the condition after:
- Brain injury.
- Infection.
- Drug reaction.
The cause of dystonia may also not be known (idiopathic dystonia).
A dystonic reaction is most often a side effect of a particular medicine. These reactions occur when the normal patterns of the nerve receptors are upset by a particular medicine, and the imbalance causes multiple types of muscle spasm. This condition may also be caused by nervous system disorders, such as:
- Stroke.
- Multiple sclerosis (MS).
- Cerebral palsy.
What increases the risk?
This condition is more likely to develop in people who take certain medicines, most often medicines that are used to treat psychiatric conditions or nausea.
What are the signs or symptoms?
Signs and symptoms of dystonia can depend on which type of the condition you have. Common signs and symptoms include:
- Muscle twitches or spasms around your eyes (blepharospasm).
- Foot cramping or dragging.
- Pulling of your neck to one side (torticollis).
- Muscles spasms of the face.
- Spasms of the voice box (larynx).
- Tremors.
- Awkward and painful positions.
- Muscle cramping after muscle use.
- Spasm of your jaw muscles that makes it difficult to open your mouth.
How is this diagnosed?
This condition is often easy to diagnose based on the patterns of muscle contractions in your body and how your body responds to treatment.
You may have other tests if the cause of your condition is not known.
Your health care provider can diagnose dystonia based on your symptoms and medical history. Your health care provider will also do a physical exam. You may also have:
- A blood test to check for genes that cause dystonia.
- Brain imaging tests to rule out other causes of your symptoms.
There are no tests that can diagnose other causes of dystonia.
How is this treated?
The treatment of this condition depends on the underlying cause. If this condition is caused by medicine that you take, your health care provider will likely recommend stopping the use of that medicine.
Most often, this condition can be treated with medicines that help to relax the muscles and reverse the reaction (anticholinergics). Botulinum toxin may also be injected to stop the involved muscles from contracting.
There are no treatments that can cure or prevent dystonia. Treatment to manage dystonia may include:
- Injecting the affected muscles with a chemical (botulinum) that blocks muscle spasms. This treatment can block spasms for a few days to a few months.
- Medicines to relax muscles.
Follow these instructions at home:
- Physical therapy to improve muscle strength and movement may be suggested by your health care provider. Continue your physical therapy exercises at home as instructed by your physical therapist.
- Make sure you have a good support system. Let your health care provider know if you are struggling with stress or anxiety.
- Keep all follow-up visits as directed by your health care provider. This is important.
- Take medicines only as directed by your health care provider.
- Talk with your health care provider about avoiding the use of the medicine or medicines that are thought to be the cause of the reaction.
- Do notdrive or operate heavy machinery until your health care provider approves.
- Take medicines only as directed by your health care provider.
Contact a health care provider if:
- Your condition is changing or getting worse.
- You need more support at home.
- Your original symptoms return after treatment.
