cervical dystonia symptoms Archives - Pain Management Institute

Cervical dystonia (CD) is a chronic neurological movement disorder characterized by unusual postures of the neck. Although muscle contractions represent the most noticeable disease feature, associated signs such as pain are frequent and applicable participants to disability.

Treatments of cervical dystonia

There are wide range of cervical dystonia treatment is available. These will be determined by the sort and severity of the precise condition. The main choices are drugs, botulinum toxin and surgery. There is likewise other support available like physiotherapy.

Botulinum toxin injections

Botulinum toxin injections are used to lessen the extra muscle activity resulting from dystonia. Botulinum toxin is produced naturally through a bacterium known as Clostridium botulinum that’s also associated with producing botulism, a rare kind of food poisoning. However, even though botulinum toxin is especially toxic, when it is purified and used in small, managed doses, it may be used efficiently as cervical dystonia treatment to relax excessive muscle contraction.

The injection enables the botulinum toxin to be focused directly into the muscles suffering by dystonia. The toxin has an influence on the nerves at their junction with the muscles. It acts as a blocker stopping release of the chemical messenger acetylcholine that is accountable for making the muscle contract. As a result, the signals that would commonly be telling the muscle to contract are halted and the muscle spasms are reduced or eliminated.

Drugs

The symptoms of dystonia may be difficult to control and it can often make an effort to get the stability of medications right to achieve benefits for someone with dystonia. Important drugs used to offer alleviation from the symptoms of dystonia are;

Dopaminergic drugs
Anticholinergic drugs
GABA Agonis
Anti-convulsant

Selective denervation

Selective denervation (SD) is an operational cervical dystonia treatment that has been used for neck dystonia (spasmodic torticollis) for many years. It is a surgical treatment to cut the nerves regulating the overactive muscles which are causing the symptoms of dystonia. The intention of the operation is to introduce an everlasting paralysis to the muscles inflicting the problems.

Deep brain stimulation

Deep brain stimulation surgery (DBS) is powerful cervical dystonia treatment and can be appropriate for patients who lose their response to botulinum toxin, or have a form of cervical dystonia that is tough to treat with the injections, especially anterocollis. DBS involves the settlement of electrodes into the vicinity of the brain known as the globus pallidus on both sides. The electrodes are linked to stimulators which ship small electrical pulses to the brain. Although the exact mechanism isn’t always clear, the electric impulses appear to “reset” the brain and improve the dystonic movements.

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Cervical dystonia is a rare movement disorder which causes a person’s muscles to contract uncontrollably. It is a painful condition in which your neck muscles contract involuntarily and your head twist or turn to one side. Cervical dystonia also cause your head to uncontrollably or disorderly, tilt forward or backward.

Cervical dystonia, also called spasmodic torticollis, can occur at any age, but most often occurs in middle-aged people, women more than men. Symptoms generally begin slightly and then reach a point where they don’t get significantly worse.

Cervical dystonia symptoms and causes vary. It may be inherited, and one gene that plays a role has been identified. However, other causes have also been identified, for example, taking certain medications. Some diseases, such as some kinds of lung cancer, can also produce cervical dystonia symptoms and causes.

Symptoms of Cervical dystonia

Cervical dystonia symptoms and causes are;

Chin toward shoulder
Ear toward shoulder
Chin straight up
Chin straight down
Head tremor, which affects around half of people with cervical dystonia
Enlargement of the neck muscle, affecting almost 75 percent of people with cervical dystonia
Unknowing of physical movements not affected by dystonia
Neck pain which is radiating towards the shoulders
A raised shoulder
Hand tremors
Headache
Involuntary pulling of the neck
Uncontrollable blinking
Speech difficulties
A dragging leg
Cramping of the foot

What causes cervical dystonia?

Most cases of cervical dystonia do not have a specific cause. However, it seems to be related to a problem in the basal ganglia area of the brain that is responsible for initiating muscle contractions. The problem depends on how the nerve cells communicate.

Some possible cervical dystonia causes which is identified in most of the cases are;

Neurological disorders, such as Parkinson’s
Medication that blocks dopamine, such as some antipsychotics
Brain trauma
Stroke
Tumor
Oxygen deprivation
Infection
Drug reactions
Poisoning caused by carbon monoxide or lead
Wilson’s disease
Traumatic brain or spine injury
Huntington’s disease
MS (multiple sclerosis)
Some infections, such as encephalitis, TB (tuberculosis), or HIV
A genetic mutation, as around 10 to 25 percent of people with cervical dystonia may have a family history of the disease
A psychological problem

Risk factors of cervical dystonia

Other than these cervical dystonia symptoms and causes, some risks are also present for cervical dystonia. It is estimated to affect about 60,000 people in the United States. Those at risk include:

Women, who are affected about twice as much as men
People between ages 40 and 60
Those with a family history of dystonia

Pain management institute is helping people to cure acute and chronic long term pain to resume a normal life style. PMI has provided many treatments like stem cell therapy and many others.

For more details call on 815.412.6166

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TREATMENT STRATEGIES FOR CERVICAL DYSTONIA