Is cervical dystonia and torticollis the same?
Cervical dystonia, also called spasmodic torticollis, is a painful condition in which your neck muscles contract involuntarily, causing your head to twist or turn to one side. Cervical dystonia can also cause your head to uncontrollably tilt forward or backward.
What are the symptoms of cervical dystonia?
Symptoms of cervical dystonia
- tipping forward, chin downward, known as anterocollis.
- tilting backward, chin upward, called retrocollis.
- tilting sideways, ear to shoulder, known as laterocollis.
Is spasmodic torticollis permanent?
The characteristic twisting of the neck is initially spasmodic (involuntary contractions of the neck muscles that lead to abnormal movements and awkward posture of the head and neck) and begins between 31-50 years of age. If the condition goes untreated, it likely will become permanent.
Can spasmodic torticollis be cured?
Sometimes spasmodic torticollis goes away for no particular reason without treatment. However, this is uncommon. Common treatments include medication or injections of botulinum toxin. Physical therapy can also be helpful for symptoms.
How serious is spasmodic torticollis?
Spasmodic torticollis is an extremely painful chronic neurological movement disorder causing the neck to involuntarily turn to the left, right, upwards, and/or downwards. The condition is also referred to as “cervical dystonia”. Both agonist and antagonist muscles contract simultaneously during dystonic movement.
Is there a cure for spasmodic torticollis?
These contractions can also cause uneven shoulders, and tremors in the arms or head. Patients with Spasmodic Torticollis typically also experience constant pain. Although there is no cure for Spasmodic Torticollis, treatment options exist to help alleviate the symptoms of this disorder.
Does cervical dystonia affect the brain?
Cervical dystonia, also known as spasmodic torticollis, is a rare neurological disorder that originates in the brain. It is the most common form of focal dystonia in an office setting.