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DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
Dystonias
can be very difficult to diagnose. Early signs are generalised and often
regarded as nervous “tics”. As a general rule, diagnosis depends on careful
clinical observation rather than a laboratory study. Dystonias vary with change
of posture, worsen with stress, decrease with relaxation or hypnosis and
disappear with sleep.
A
number of treatments are available for Dystonia. Chief amongst them are
pharmacological, physical, surgical and Botox injections.
PHARMACOLOGICAL:
Pharmacological treatment requires chronic usage and is not consistently
effective.
PHYSICAL:
Physical treatment primarily includes use of a collar, exercises, biofeedback
and electrical stimulation. However successful, these therapies provide only
short term effects.
SURGICAL:
There is no standard surgical treatment and a number of surgical procedures are
used. For some forms of Dystonia, surgical intervention is generally postponed
owing to the potential risk of significant functional impairment, particularly
of speech or vision defect and paralysis.
BOTOX
INJECTIONS: Botox is a sterile lyophilised form of purified Botulinum toxin type
A. It is reconstituted with sterile, non-preserved saline, prior to
intra-muscular injection.
How
does it work?
Injecting
the toxin into the muscle produces temporary paralysis and relieves the spasms.
Degree and duration of relief are related to the dosage and location of the
injections.
WHAT
IS BEING DONE ABOUT DYSTONIA?
A
great deal of research is going on all over the world into the cause of Dystonia
and ultimately to find a cure.
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