Cervical Dystonia

Cervical dystonia is a chronic neurological movement disorder and it is also known as spasmodic torticollis.

Cervical dystonia is a focal dystonia that affects the neck. It causes the neck muscles to contract involuntarily, making your head twist or turn to one side. Cervical dystonia can also cause your head to tilt forward or backward uncontrollably.

The most common symptoms for cervical dystonia are the involuntary contracting of the neck muscles, causing abnormal movements and awkward posture of the head and neck. Both agonist and antagonist muscle contract simultaneously during dystonic movement. The movements may be sustained (tonic), jerky (clonic), or a combination.

A person having cervical dystonia may suffer considerable pain and discomfort. However, symptoms typically will improve with rest or sleep. These symptoms usually start gradually and they reach a point where they continue without getting substantially worse.

Basically, cervical dystonia is not very common. It can happen at any age. Although there are cases of it occurring in infancy, cervical dystonia is most often occurring in people after 40. It occurs more often in women than in men.

Cervical dystonia may be primary (in which it is the only apparent neurological disorder) or it could be brought about by secondary causes such as physical trauma.

Basically, there is no cure for cervical dystonia. In about 10% to 20% of patients, the disorder sometimes resolves without any treatment needed. However, sustained remissions are not common.

A popular method to treat this disorder is to inject botulinum toxin type A into the affected muscles. This will often reduce the symptoms and discomfort. A number of oral medications have demonstrated some benefit. In some cases of cervical dystonia, surgery may be the best and appropriate option of treatment.