Spasmodic
Torticollis
Spasmodic
torticollis, also called torticollis or
cervical dystonia, is a agonizing
state in which your neck
muscles contract involuntarily, causing your head to
twist or turn to one side. Sometimes the contractions are
sustained and at times the neck muscles spasm, causing a
repetitive, erratic movement of your
head.
Spasmodictorticollis is a form
of
dystonia. There are
various types of dystonia, identified by where they occur in
your body and what causes them. All involve involuntary muscle
contractions that cause repetitive, often twisting movements,
which produce sustained abnormal postures. Dystonias involving
only one limb or body part (trunk, neck, face) are referred to
as "focal." Spasmodic torticollis is the most frequent
variety of focal
dystonia.
Spasmodictorticollis can
happen
at any time
from birth to maturity, but most often it
occurs in young adults. It's more
frequent in women. Spasmodic
torticollis commonly begins
slowly and then reaches a
point where it doesn't get any
worse.
For a few people
there can be a spontaneous remission, but often the signs
and symptoms relapse. A variety of treatments are
available, and your symptoms may ease with one or a
combination of these treatments.
Spasmodic torticollis
signs and
symptoms:
A chief
indicator of spasmodic
torticollis is spasms in your neck muscles that you can't
control. These spasms may be quite painful and even
produce compression of nerve roots in the
neck.
Torticollis literally means
"twisted neck." However, cervical dystonia may
create abnormal neck postures
in different directions. Frequently, there is a
combination of these abnormal postures in any given
person with torticollis.
- Anterocollis, in which your head
tilts forward
- Retrocollis,
in which your head tilts backward
- Laterocollis, in which your head
tilts to one side
Additional signs and symptoms of
spasmodic torticollis include:
- Enlargement of
neck muscles (possibly present at
birth)
- Uneven
shape of an infant's head from sleeping on the
affected side
- Elevation
of the shoulder on the affected
side
- Stiffness in
the neck muscles
- Limited
range of motion
- Headache
- Neck
pain
- Tremor
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