Cervical Dystonia (aka Torticollis) Treatment in Westminster Denver Colorado
Overview
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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.
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Cervical
dystonia can also cause your head to uncontrollably tilt forward or backward.
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A
rare disorder that can occur at any age, cervical dystonia most often occurs in
middle-aged people, women more than men.
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Symptoms
generally begin gradually and then reach a point where they don’t get
substantially worse.
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There
is no cure for cervical dystonia.
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The
disorder sometimes resolves without treatment, but sustained remissions are
uncommon.
●
Injecting
botulinum toxin into the affected muscles often reduces the signs and symptoms
of cervical dystonia
●
Surgery
may be appropriate in a few cases.
Symptoms
The
muscle contractions involved in cervical dystonia can cause your head to twist
in a variety of directions, including:
● Chin toward shoulder
● Ear toward shoulder
● Chin straight up
● Chin straight down
The
most common type of twisting associated with cervical dystonia is when your
chin is pulled toward your shoulder. Some people experience a combination of
abnormal head postures. A jerking motion of the head also may occur.
Many people who have cervical dystonia also experience neck
pain that can radiate into the shoulders. The disorder can also cause
headaches. In some people, the pain from cervical dystonia can be exhausting
and disabling.
Causes
●
In
most people with cervical dystonia, the cause is unknown.
●
Some
people who have cervical dystonia have a family history of the disorder.
●
Researchers
have found gene mutations associated with cervical dystonia. Cervical dystonia
is also sometimes linked to head, neck or shoulder injuries.
Risk factors
Risk
factors for cervical dystonia include:
● Age. While the disorder can occur in people of any age, it most
commonly begins after age 30.
● Your
sex. Women are more likely to develop
cervical dystonia than are men.
● Family
history. If a close family member has
cervical dystonia or some other type of dystonia, you are at higher risk of
developing the disorder.
Complications
●
In
some cases, the involuntary muscle contractions associated with cervical
dystonia can spread to nearby areas of your body. The most common locations
include the face, jaw, arms and trunk.
●
People
who have cervical dystonia may also develop bone spurs that may reduce the
amount of space in the spinal canal. This can cause tingling, numbness and
weakness in the arms, hands, legs or feet.
Diagnosis
●
While
a physical examination alone can often confirm a diagnosis of cervical
dystonia, your doctor might suggest blood tests or magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI) to rule out any underlying conditions causing your signs and symptoms.
Treatment
●
There
is no cure for cervical dystonia. In some people, signs and symptoms may
disappear without treatment, but recurrence is common. Treatment focuses on
relieving the signs and symptoms.
Medications
●
Botulinum
toxin, a paralyzing agent often used to smooth facial wrinkles, can be injected
directly into the neck muscles affected by cervical dystonia. Examples of
botulinum toxin drugs include Botox, Dysport, Xeomin and Myobloc.
●
Most
people with cervical dystonia see an improvement with these injections, which
usually must be repeated every three to four months.
●
To
improve results or to help reduce the dosage and frequency of botulinum toxin
injections, your doctor might also suggest oral medications that have a
muscle-relaxing effect.
Therapies
●
Sensory
tricks, such as touching the opposite side of your face or the back of your
head, may cause spasms to stop temporarily. Different sensory tricks work for
different people, but they often lose effectiveness as the disease progresses.
●
Heat
packs and massage can help relax your neck and shoulder muscles. Exercises that
improve neck strength and flexibility also may be helpful.
●
The
signs and symptoms of cervical dystonia tend to worsen when you’re stressed, so
learning stress management techniques also is important.
Our
expert providers are experienced and skilled at treating torticollis and are
your source for expert treatment of torticollis in Westminster and Denver
Colorado. Not only are we the premier treatment for spine injuries and
chiropractic in Westminster and Denver Colorado, but we also specialize in many
other advanced treatment techniques such as shockwave, cold laser, graston
technique, KT Taping, activator, instrument aided spinal alignments, drop
table, toggle, in house rehab services, and on site digital xrays. We are your
Premier destination for torticollis treatment in Westminster Colorado and
Denver Colorado Chiropractor.