I have been contacted by someone seeking help with the following
condition. I have never even heard of this before let alone having
any experience with it. Has anyone encountered this condition before
and did it respond to NFB. IF not perhaps read the information below
(from a support website) and please let me know what you think.
Spasmodic Torticollis
Spasmodic Torticollis (ST) is a painful and debilitating neurological
movement disorder. It is also known as "Cervical Dystonia." and is
referred to by many as "torticollis." Approximately 3 in every
10,000 people - about 90,000 people in the United States - are known
to suffer from ST.
This movement disorder is caused by a dysfunction of the brain. The
symptoms are caused by intermittent or sustained contractions of the
muscles around the neck which control the position of the head. This
causes the head to lean to one side, or be pulled forward or
backward. The shoulders may also be uneven and some patients
experience tremors in the head or arms. ST is usually accompanied by
constant and extreme pain.
ST can resemble other disorders including Parkinson's disease,
epilepsy, muscular dystrophy and wry neck (an acute episode of pain
and spasm in the neck that resolves itself in days or weeks.)
ST can limit a person's ability to function. As a localized
disability this disorder does not directly affect other body systems.
Because it can be more severe during times of anxiety or stress, ST
was once thought to be a psychiatric disorder. Research has shown,
however, that while ST does indeed seem to originate in the brain, it
is clearly a neurological disorder rather than a psychiatric one.
ST is different in every person. If you have spasmodic torticollis,
there are others who understand your pain and your frustration.
There are people you can talk to without needing lengthy
explanations. And there are people who can help: doctors who can
provide treatment, patients who can share coping tips and
inspiration, and organizations like the National Spasmodic
Torticollis Association who can provide information and other forms
of support.
NSTA is here to help you whether or not you are a member of our
organization! In addition to our office staff, we have support group
leaders and special "contact" people around the country—maybe someone
close to you--who would be happy to talk to you about ST and how they
cope with it.
While there is still no cure, many people with ST can relief from the
pain and disability caused by this neurological disorder using a
combination of treatments including medications, botulinum toxin
injections, physical therapy, "alternative" treatments and stress
reduction techniques. If none of those methods work for you, as a
last resort, there are two surgical procedures called Denervation
Surgery and Deep Brain Stimulation that may help.
Thank You
John Thompson