What Is Dystonia Disease?
The word dystonia literally means: a failure in the tension of a muscle.
When dystonia changes the muscle tension. Usually, that is too high, but sometimes normal. By the high voltage cramping muscles, which is painful.
An additional problem is that the muscles do not work well together. This causes involuntary movements, such as the ever-flashing with the eyes or turning the head. Involuntary movements are movements that happen without you want it.
The complaints are worse if you are tired or feel strong emotions.
Dystonia may be the result of a disease, a brain damage or a side effect of a medication. But more often it has no obvious cause.
There are different forms of dystonia, such as:
- Spasmodic torticollis: dystonia of the neck muscles, which makes someone hoof movements;
- Blepharospasm: dystonia of the eye muscles, causing someone blinks;
- Writer's cramp: dystonia in a hand or finger;
- Spasmodic dysphonia: dystonia of the vocal cords, causing someone makes noises;
- Oromandibular dystonia: dystonia of the mouth, tongue and jaw muscles;
- Generalized dystonia: dystonia over the body. This usually starts with a foot or a hand;
- Segawa syndrome, a rare inherited form of dystonia.
How Do You Know If You Have Dystonia?
If your doctor thinks you have dystonia, they will refer you to a neurologist. This specialist will first talk to you about your symptoms. In addition, they asked the following questions:
- What problems do you have exactly?
- When these symptoms began?
- Are the symptoms occur suddenly or slowly?
- Worsening symptoms in certain positions?
- Do the symptoms common in your family?
- Are you on medication?
Dystonia Treatment
Dystonia can not be cured yet. The treatment only combats the symptoms. This is called symptom management.
Botulinum
Usually the doctor injections of botulinum toxin. The muscles 'slacking' therefore temporary. Botulinum toxin is known to many people as Botox, a drug to reduce wrinkles. The insurance reimburses the costs of these Botox injections for medical reasons. So it is important to notify your insurer that it is a medical treatment.
Other drugs
Besides botulinum there are other medications for symptom control. Talk to your doctor before you what the possibilities are.
Therapies
In some forms of dystonia, physiotherapy is a good way to reduce the symptoms. Sometimes behavioral sense. When behavioral therapy teaches you how best to deal with your illness.
Operation
If medications and other treatments do not help, surgery is still a possibility. In such an operation, the nerve is cut through to the muscle which is becoming cramped.
In people with dystonia throughout the body's brain surgery a last resort. But it has many risks.
Botulinum Toxin Dystonia
Botulinum toxin is a treatment for dystonia in one place, such as blepharospasm, spasmodic torticollis and spasmodic dysphonia.
This treatment "relax" the muscles temporarily. Thereby reduce the symptoms.
The doctor first determines very precisely which muscle is cramped. Then the doctor injects botulinum toxin as close as possible to the nerve that controls the muscles, so that only the muscle relaxes. Often more injections are needed for a good result.
The treatment generally has few side effects. Sometimes, the injection which is painful, sometimes the skin becomes irritated at the site of the injection. If what botulinum toxin enters another muscle, weakens them as well. This improves again after some time.
After two to four months, the effect of the botulinum toxin has disappeared. You will receive a new injection.
At What Age Does For Dystonia?
Dystonia can begin at almost any age.
It usually starts in middle age, after the age of 40. The dystonia usually limited to one limb. This is called focal dystonia.
Sometimes dystonia begins at a young age, soon after the birth. These dystonia often develops into dystonia in the whole body. How fast this development will differ from person to person. About one in four children with dystonia becomes physically handicapped.