Treatment for Dystonia in LA
Dystonia covers a range of movement disorders that cause involuntary muscle contractions such as twisting and repetitive movements. Contractions can affect a single muscle, a specific muscle group, or the whole body, resulting in awkward or unusual postures.
Dystonia affects women more than men and according to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, around 250,000 Americans currently live with the condition.
Symptoms of Dystonia can be painful and interfere with routine tasks. There is no known cure for the condition, but medications assist with improving the symptoms. Surgery is also a viable solution for people living with severe Dystonia.
Symptoms of Dystonia affect people in different ways. Muscle contractions may appear in a single area, worsen with stress, or occur during a certain action such as driving. Areas of the body where Dystonia usually develops include the eyelids, neck, hand, forearm, tongue, jaw, and the voice box.
We don’t know for certain what causes Dystonia but it seems to include altered nerve-cell communication within certain regions of the brain. Dystonia is also inherited or develops as a symptom for another condition or disease such as traumatic brain injury, stroke, birth injury, infections, brain tumor, Wilson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease.
Depending on the type, Dystonia can lead to several complications such as difficulty with vision, jaw movement, and speech, fatigue, pain, anxiety, depression, and physical disabilities
To manage the muscle contractions, doctors may recommend medications, therapy, or surgery. Medications include Botox injections that help to eliminate muscle contractions. Therapy includes massages to ease the pain, physical therapy to improve function, and speech therapy if the patient experiences voice changes.
If the symptoms are severe, surgery may be needed including Selective denervation and Deep Brain Stimulation. Dr. Farzin Pedouim is a board-certified neurologist and movement disorders specialist with extra training in neuromuscular disorders based in Los Angeles and Huntington Beach. He helps patients overcome symptoms of Dystonia to lead perfectly normal lives.