Dystonia

About 300,000 people in the United States have dystonia, a neurological movement disorder that causes involuntary muscle contractions. At Muskogee Family Practice in Muskogee, Oklahoma, Monica Hoog-Gage, ARNP, CNP, diagnoses and treats this condition to reduce unwanted face or body movements and enhance your quality of life. Schedule an evaluation by calling the Muskogee Family Practice office. 

What is dystonia?

Dystonia is a condition that causes uncontrollable muscle movements because of abnormal brain signals. Muscles tense up on their own. This might be a short-term problem or lifelong when left untreated. Many cases of dystonia are manageable, but dystonia is often underdiagnosed. See Monica at Muskogee Family Practice at the first sign of a problem.

What are the symptoms of dystonia?

The symptoms of dystonia include:

• Uncontrollable muscle movements
• Painful movements
• Electric shock sensations
• Tremors
• Twitching
• Holding an unusual (unintentional) pose
• Muscle spasms 
• Teeth grinding
• Muscle cramping

Muscle movements, spasms, or tension may last just a few seconds, minutes, or longer. They could affect just one part of your body or multiple areas. Symptoms might affect your face, head, neck, or one side of your body — or be widespread. 

What are the risk factors for dystonia?

Dystonia can occur because of problems with the way your brain functions. It tends to run in families when the cause is genetic. Dystonia might also appear because of an underlying medical condition. Risk factors include:

• Family history of dystonia
• Brain tumors
• Parkinson’s disease
• Epilepsy
• Stroke
• Lack of oxygen during birth
• Huntington’s disease
• Wilson’s disease
• Drugs
• Toxins
• Poisons
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Metabolic conditions
• Infections

Dystonia is not contagious. Depending on its cause, dystonia may go away with treatment. Sometimes, it’s a permanent condition, but you can manage its symptoms with Monica’s help.

How is dystonia diagnosed?

Diagnosing dystonia requires a discussion about your symptoms, medical history, lifestyle, and medications. Monica may order blood tests, a CT scan, an MRI, genetic testing, a PET scan, a spinal tap, brain function tests, nerve testing, or other diagnostic tests to determine what’s causing your condition and how to best treat it. 

How is dystonia treated?

Treating dystonia may consist of:

• Avoiding alcohol and caffeine
• Eating a balanced diet
• Stress management
• Medication management
• Botox® (botulinum toxin) injections
• Deep brain stimulation 
• Occupational therapy
• Physical therapy
• Speech therapy
• Chronic disease management

Monica helps manage your condition to lessen symptoms and avoid worsening problems or complications. She follows up to ensure your treatment is effective and provides referrals to other specialists when necessary.

Schedule a dystonia evaluation at Muskogee Family Practice by calling the office today.