Dystonia can interfere with movement, and the lack of motor control may sometimes cause emotional distress.
For example, its possible to have idiopathic hand dystonia.
How Many People Have Dystonia?
Pekic / Getty Images
The incidence of primary dystonia is estimated to affect approximately 16.43 per 100,000 people.
The symptoms of focal dystonia depend on which part of the body is affected.
For example, the hand may bend involuntarily and remain in that position for several minutes at a time.
Laryngeal dystonia may cause difficulty in speaking, and it may affect breathing.
Causes
Dystonia takes place if there is recurrent, purposeless motor stimulation of part of the body.
This area of the brain is affected by Parkinson’s disease.
Often these other signs can help in determining the cause of your dystonia.
Sometimes diagnostic imaging tests are part of the assessment of focal dystonia.
Treatment
There are severaltreatment options for dystonia.
Sometimes a combination of treatments is necessary to treat ongoing dystonia and prevent worsening dystonia.
The treatment is directed toward the cause and the symptoms.
Surgical procedures for treating focal dystonia aim to be curative and are not intended to be repeated.
Prognosis
The prognosis of focal dystonia varies, depending on the cause and severity.
Dystonia can often be effectively treated with long-term medication or surgery.
However, some types of dystonia can be permanent and might not respond well to medication.
You may need to seek accommodations at work if your focal dystonia is preventing you from doing certain tasks.
Dystonia is typically resulting from abnormal brain, spinal cord, or neurotransmitter function.
