Dystonia.
Another neurological movement disorder. Dealing with sustained muscle contractions that cause twisting and repetitive movements or abnormal postures.
What’s this got to do with Parkinson’s disease? It can be part of PD.
Symptoms can include disturbed sleep patterns, tiredness, depression, poor concentration, change in vision, and more. Normal activities can be more difficult to carry out. Sounds like other diseases as well, right? That’s why it is extremely important to not self-diagnose. Neurologists and Movement Disorder Specialists are physicians specializing in various areas such as dystonia and PD, with the ability to clearly differentiate the similarities of diseases with commonalities such as these.
As well as the symptoms listed above, dystonia tends to lend itself to continuous pain, cramping and muscle spasms. Penmanship may become altered, dropping items becomes common, turning pages becomes a struggle. The list can go on. Dystonia can mimic PD in various and assorted ways and diagnosis can be difficult depending on how the disease manifests its symptoms, which are quite similar to not only PD, but other neurological disorders as well.
Focal dystonias are the most common types of dystonia. Cervical dystonia affects the neck muscles, whereas blepharospasm is known to affect the muscles around the eyes. When the jaw and tongue muscles are affected, it is known as oromandibular dystonia. The voice can be affected, causing a ‘crackling’ sound and known as spasmodic dysphonia.
When a patient suffers from both blepharospasmodic contractions and oromandibular dystonia, it is referred to as cranial dystonia, also known as Meige’s syndrome.
Many drug treatments have been successful in managing symptoms, but recent treatments using botox have proven extremely successful for 3-6 months when injected into the affected areas. Many PD treatments are used for treating dystonia and are quite promising in helping the patient to cope with the disease, including deep brain stimulation.
While some cases can worsen over time, some can almost be mild in their degree of symptoms and their affects on the body. What may seem like an odd treatment may actually be one of the best received and most helpful… a big hug.
Proven to be scientific by Temple Grandin and manufactured by Therafin Corp., The Squeeze Machine gives the same result, but at a much higher cost. However, it has been proven that when encased in a tight ‘bear hug’ the tension and tightening of the contracted muscles are often released when squeezed tightly.
There aren’t many diseases (if any) that respond to such a treatment. The next time you’re struggling with stiffness, spasms, and pain associated with PD or dystonia, get a loved one to give you a tight bear hug and hold you for a few minutes. You’ll feel better not only physically but in every other way as well. So will they. There is healing in a hug for everyone involved.
Journeying with you,
Sherri
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Awww. this post has me wanting a big bear hug!!! Ive had focal hand dystonia for many years.. and I frequently sit on my hand to halp stop the pain/spasms.. I guess its the same concept. I’m generalized now.. (you did not mention it– meaning multiple muscle groups are affected) so I guess I need an actual bear hug because I cant sit on my body!
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