Dystonia
Diagnosing dystonia isn't straightforward. It involves using a stepwise approach that starts by identifying the precise nature and specific features of your movement disorders.
The specialist will try to identify which type of dystonia classification your movement disorders fall into, taking into consideration a number of factors, including:
It's important to confirm whether you have primary or secondary dystonia to help determine the type of treatment you need.
In primary dystonia, muscle spasms are the only symptom and there's no other associated condition. Secondary dystonia is caused by an underlying health condition, injury or some other type of damage.
If you have thetypical signs oflate-onset focal dystonia , you may not need to have specific investigations. However, you may need to have a series of tests and examinations to confirm whether you have primary or secondary dystonia. These tests are described below:
If you have early-onset dystonia, you may also be given a course of medication called levodopa . If your symptoms improve significantly after taking levodopa, a diagnosis of dopa-responsive dystonia can be made.
Dystonia is a medical term for a range of movement disorders that cause muscle spasms and contractions. The spasms and contractions may either be sustained or may come and go.
The symptoms of dystonia can vary, depending on the type of dystonia and when it develops.
Dystonia with no obvious cause, or caused by a genetic mutation, is known as primary dystonia. If dystonia is a symptom of another condition, it's known as secondary dystonia.
Diagnosing dystonia isn't straightforward. It involves using a stepwise approach that starts by identifying the precise nature and specific features of your movement disorders.
A number of treatment techniques can be used to help control the involuntary movements and spasms of dystonia.