Dystonia
Dystonia is a neurological disorder causing involuntary/uncontrollable muscle movements. It is the tensing up of body muscles in a way that’s incorrect or faulty. It is of various forms depending upon which body part gets affected. The condition can affect a single body part (focal dystonia), adjacent body parts (segment dystonia), or all body (general dystonia).
Arete Hospitals is one of the leading hospitals for the diagnosis and treatment of dystonia in Hyderabad.
Arete Hospitals neurology department staffs the first-class neurologists in Hyderabad who are the best medical specialists to look after the patients with dystonia.
Benefits of Dystonia Treatment
- The medications can help reduce or stop muscle spasms experienced by dystonia patients.
- Massage therapy or stretching can help alleviate muscle pain.
- In case dystonia has affected voice, speech therapy can help get it back to normal. Physical/occupational therapy helps to manage symptoms related to bodily movements and improve function.
- Deep brain stimulation can initially help improve involuntary movements in people with various forms of dystonia. Over time, it can also provide postural improvements and eventually enhance the patient’s life quality.
- People with genetic dystonia show 80-99% improvement in symptoms while people with cervical dystonia may show 40-60% improvement.
Causes of Dystonia
It is caused because of the disruptions in the functioning of the brain. The effect is usually in basal ganglia- a group of brain structures that links different areas of the brain and coordinates how the brain areas work together. The primary role of basal ganglia is in motor control.
According to experts, three categories organize possible causes of dystonia. These are:
- Primary dystonia- This is when the patient has dystonia as its main condition for an unknown reason. It is suspected to run in families.
- Secondary dystonia- This is when the patient has dystonia as a symptom of another condition or issue. The potential conditions/problems include Parkinson’s disease, Stroke, Birth defect, Traumatic Brain Injury, Wilson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, Carbon monoxide poisoning or oxygen deprivation; Infections like encephalitis or tuberculosis; Reactions to Heavy metal poisoning or certain drugs; Brain tumour or paraneoplastic syndromes.
- Dystonia Plus- This is when the patient suffers from a neurological condition wherein dystonia is the main symptom but there are other symptoms as well.
Best Dystonia Treatment in Hyderabad is offered at Arete Hospitals. For more details consult the experts today.
Symptoms of Dystonia
Dystonia of various forms affects people in different ways. Generally, its key symptom is uncontrollable muscle movements. These muscle movements are often:
- Like a stretching or twisting, thereby making one appear to be in an abnormal pose
- Variable in terms of how long they last (some lasts for seconds or minutes while others can continue up to months)
- Repetitive (especially with tremors)
- Painful or discomforting (sometimes feels like electric shock)
- Worse when affected muscles are used.
The symptoms of dystonia may even vary based on its location of occurrence in the body. The affected areas of the body include neck (cervical dystonia), eyelids (rapid blinking or spasms), jaw (teeth grinding/bruxism), hand/wrist (writer’s dystonia or musician’s dystonia), voice box/vocal cords (laryngeal dystonia), hemidystonia (in one body side), multifocal dystonia (like tardive dyskinesia), and general dystonia (involving leg or trunk or entire body).
If one is experiencing these symptoms, they can consult the experts doctors at Arete Hospitals, one of the Top Dystonia Hospitals in Hyderabad.
Diagnosis of Dystonia
The diagnosis of Dystonia commences with reviewing the patient’s medical history, looking at the patient’s symptoms, and conducting a physical examination. Best Dystonia Treatment Doctors in Hyderabad can help diagnose Dystonia based on the patient’s symptoms, neurological exam, and various medical tests.
To diagnose dystonia, it’s important to rule out other medical conditions that are associated with symptoms similar to those of dystonia. There are varieties of laboratory, imaging, and diagnostic tests possible with dystonia. The possible medical tests are ordered by a neurologist in Hyderabad depending on the patient’s symptoms and suspected conditions are:
- Blood or urine tests- These can help detect a wide range of medical problems, ranging from issues with the immune system to the presence of toxins and poisons.
- Imaging tests- These include Computerised Tomography (CT) Scan, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan. They help identify any problems in the brain such as lesions, tumours, or evidence of stroke.
- Electroencephalogram (EEG)- This is done to check the electrical activity of the brain.
- Genetic testing- This is run to identify any genetic mutations that may cause inherited forms of dystonia.
- Electromyogram/ nerve conduction test- It helps assess the health of the muscles and motor neurons.
- Lumbar puncture/ Spinal tap- This is done to collect cerebrospinal fluid and test in the laboratory for infections, inflammations, or other medical conditions.
Dystonia Treatment in Hyderabad
Dystonia symptoms are manageable with different treatment options. A neurologist might recommend a combination of medications, therapy, or surgery.
Medications
Botuli-num to-xin injection is an FDA-approved medication to temporarily paralyze muscle contractions. When it is injected into the specific muscles that spasms, it might reduce or stop spasms by inhibiting the release of acetylcholine (a neurotransmitter). The effect of this neurotoxin lasts only for 3-4 months after which another injection will be needed. The side effects of such medication are mild and temporary and can include dry mouth, weakness, and voice changes.
Other medications that target neurotransmitters and affect muscle movement include:
- Carbi-dopa-levod-opa- It increases dopamine levels in the brain.
- Trihexyp-henidyl and benz-tropine- These medications act to regulate levels of brain chemicals other than dopamine.
- Tetra-bena-zine and Deutetr-abena-zine- These medications block dopamine.
- Diaz-epam, Clonaze-pam, and Baclo-fen- These medications help reduce neurotransmission.
Therapies
The suggested therapies for dystonia might include:
- Speech therapy
- Physical therapy or occupational therapy
- Massage therapy or stretching.
Surgery
This is only recommended for people by Neurosurgeon in Hyderabad with severe dystonia who can’t get relief from medications and therapies. The surgical approaches to treat dystonia include:
- Deep brain stimulation- This treatment involves surgery to implant electrodes into the specific parts of the patient’s brain. The electrodes are connected to a generator which is surgically implanted into the patient’s chest. The generator works to send electrical pulses to the patient’s brain through the electrodes. This helps control the muscle contractions and ease symptoms of dystonia. The surgeon can make adjustments to the settings of the generator to treat specific conditions of the patient.
- Selective denervation surgery- In this surgery, the neurosurgeon cuts the nerves that control muscle spasms. This surgical approach is recommended only when alternative treatments for cervical dystonia have failed to ease the patient’s symptoms.
Dystonia Treatment Cost in Hyderabad
The cost of dystonia treatment in Hyderabad varies based on several factors. These include the type and severity of dystonia, the chosen treatment approach (medication, physical therapy, botul-inum tox-in injections, or surgery), duration of treatment, and the healthcare facility. Costs may range from a few thousand to several lakh rupees, with ongoing maintenance expenses for some patients. It's crucial to consult with a healthcare professional for a personalized estimation.
1. Can dystonia be cured?
Dystonia is treatable, but not curable and can’t resolve on its own. The symptoms of dystonia can be managed with different treatment options such as using sensory tricks to reduce muscle spasms. People with dystonia get therapy based on their symptoms that need to be treated. Neurologists at Arete Hospitals, Best Neurology Hospital in Hyderabad recommend the best treatment for dystonia patients as per their specific situation.
2. Can dystonia be prevented?
Dystonia is an unpredictable disorder, so it is not preventable. In today’s time, there has been no medication designed to prevent primary dystonia or slow down its progression. That’s because people can either inherit primary dystonia or develop it because of unknown reasons. There are only some treatments available to ease symptoms of dystonia.
However, some causes of secondary dystonia are preventable or people can minimize the risk of developing them. That’s possible by eating a balanced diet, maintaining healthy body weight, wearing safety equipment to avoid brain injury, managing underlying health conditions, and not ignoring infections (especially of ears and eyes) that can spread to the brain.
3. Is dystonia a mental health issue?
Dystonia is a neurological movement disorder, not a mental health issue. However, researchers have found that people with dystonia are more likely to suffer from mental health disorders, particularly anxiety and depression. They may even experience sensory signs, sleep disturbance, and pain. Get more details and information on Movement Disorder Treatment in Hyderabad with Arete Hospitals experts.
4. How long does dystonia last?
Primary dystonia lasts for a lifetime, once it develops. Secondary dystonia may not be a lifelong condition, depending upon its underlying cause. The causes that may make secondary dystonia last for a short term include infections, traumatic injuries, and certain medications.
5. What is the life expectancy of people with dystonia?
The life expectancy of people with dystonia depends majorly on the cause of dystonia, if it develops in connection with other medical conditions, the patient’s medical history, and the treatment received. A neurologist can tell whether or not someone’s life span gets affected by dystonia and if yes, how will it do so.
6. Is dystonia a birth defect?
Cervical dystonia in children is a birth defect. It is a movement disorder caused by a traumatic injury to the head and neck of the baby at the time of birth.
For more details schedule a visit to the best healthcare professionals at Arete Hospitals, one of the best Brain and Spine Hospitals, Hyderabad.
