Dystonia is a movement disorder affecting muscle control, causing twisting and repetitive movements, and an inability to sit normally. Symptoms worsen over time, causing pain, depression, and blurred vision. Treatment involves identifying the root cause and may include medication and therapy. It’s important to consult with a qualified physician before attempting any treatment.
Dystonia is a disorder that affects the ability to control the movement and function of muscles in the body. Often, the condition manifests itself with sudden movements involving constant twisting and repetition, as well as the inability to sit in a normal position. There are different types of dystonia; some are associated with conditions at the time of birth, while others are more closely associated with some type of health crisis later in life.
Symptoms of this type of movement disorder may seem mild at first, then become more pronounced as the condition worsens. In adults, one of the earliest signs involves the hands. Your ability to write legibly may decrease as it becomes more difficult to maintain a firm grip on a pencil or pen. At the same time, it can become more difficult to hold plates, books or other objects with your hands. As the dystonia progresses, the individual will drop objects more frequently and find that they have little control over the normal function of the hand muscles.
Over a short period of time, dystonia will trigger pain in various muscle groups. In the beginning, the individual may experience brief bursts of pain while performing daily activities. These brief outbursts soon progress to include hand and leg cramps and a general inability to find a comfortable position when sitting or resting in bed. The diaphragm may begin to experience spasms when the individual takes a breath, followed by muscle contractions in the jaw and other muscle groups around the body.
As the neurological condition worsens, the symptoms begin to affect the body and mind in other ways. Depression and anxiety may develop, punctuated by periods of extreme moodiness and irritability. Sleep time is shortened and often interrupted by sudden twists in one part of the body or another. The ability to think clearly may also begin to fade, along with the onset of blurred vision.
Treatment of torsional dystonia and other forms of the disorder involves identifying the root cause of the condition. Should your doctor find that medications are the reason for developing dystonia, changing medications may be enough to ease and eventually eliminate symptoms. In case the condition was triggered by some type of physical trauma, engaging in a combination of medication and therapy can help keep symptoms under control. When determining that the disease originated at birth, it may be necessary to use antiepileptic drugs or other drugs that help inhibit the production of specific neurotransmitters in the brain.
It’s important to note that treatments that work for one form of dystonia can actually make other types of the condition worse. For this reason, it is important to discuss any course of treatment such as herbal remedies or exercises with a qualified physician before attempting to address the dystonia on your own.
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