Dystonia, a Little-Understood Problem Quiz

Answer: A movement disorder

Dystonia is a neurological disorder, not a disease, that affects the muscles in the body. It is, therefore, a movement disorder. Neurologists, which specialise in movement disorders, are normally the ones that diagnose dystonia.

Answer: Bell's Palsy

Bell's Palsy is a temporary paralysis of one side of the face caused by damage to one of the facial nerves. All of the other mentioned conditions are forms of dystonia. Hemi-facial spasm is a constant twitching of one side of the face. Meige's syndrome affects the jaw, and sometimes the tongue, and can cause the sufferer to constantly grind their teeth. Tardive dyskinesia is a condition that also affect the face.

It may be characterised by constant lip smacking, tongue protrusion and pursing of the lips.

Answer: The eyelids

Blepharospasm is a type of dystonia that affects the eyelids. It results in the sufferer's eyes suddenly closing, and their being unable to open them until the spasm is over. The name comes from the Greek, blepharo, for eyelid. During an episode, the person may suffer such severe symptoms that they are, effectively, blind for the length of the attack.

Answer: True

We are not talking here about when your hand gets tired after a long period of writing. True writer's cramp is a total spasm of the muscles in the hand, and prevents the person from even holding or releasing a pen. Another name for it is mogigraphia. It has also been known to affect people such as pianists, in which case it is, sometimes, called musician's cramp.

Answer: There isn't one

Because dystonia affects different people in different ways, there isn't a cure. It is a disorder that can be controlled, depending on the type of dystonia, but, it cannot be cured. Over the years several attempts have been made to try and 'fix' the problem. Most of these have involved anti convulsive drugs. But, because the condition affects different people in different ways, no single cure has been found to be effective.

Answer: Paroxysmal dystonia

Paroxysmal dystonia is a form which can affect the whole body and is one of the rarer forms. Spasmodic torticollis is another name for cervical dystonia and affects the head and neck. Oromandibular affects the jaw and mouth and laryngeal affects the muscles associated with speech.

Answer: Botulinum toxin

Botulinum toxin, or Botox as it is more commonly known, is injected into the muscles that go into spasm. It can also be effective in blepharospasm. If it is effective the injections are usually repeated at three monthly intervals. Ambulatory phlebectomy is a treatment for varicose veins and rhizolysis is a treatment used in severe lower back pain and uses radio waves to effectively burn part of the nerve that is causing the problem.

Answer: Parkinson's disease

Because of the similarities between the two,tremors and rigidity of the affected part of the body, dystonia and Parkinson's are often confused. This is why it is important to consult the right type of specialist.

Answer: They all are

Because dystonia is so little understood no one is absolutely certain why the condition starts in the first place. It is thought that damage to a part of the brain called the basal ganglia is the main cause. This damage can be as a result of a stroke, a head injury, a tumor of the basal ganglia or an adverse reaction to certain prescription drugs such as dopamine. Anyone taking any form of prescription medication should not discontinue the treatment without consulting with their doctor first.

Answer: There isn't one

Because there are so many types of dystonia there is no 'typical' sign. Some forms can be recognised by a particular type of movement, some show no symptoms at all until the episode occurs. Most forms can produce symptoms that are very similar to other neurological problems that it is often missed as the real problem. This is why it is so important to talk to your doctor, and get referred to a specialist.