Torticollis 

Spasmodic Torticollis (ST) is a agonizing 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 this condition. Torticollis is a twisted neck, referring to the head being tipped to one side, while the chin is turned to the other.

Alternative Names:    Wry neck, Loxia

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 regulate the position of the cranium. This causes the head to lean to one edge, or be pulled ahead or backward. The shoulders may also be uneven and some patients experience tremors in the head or arms. ST is commonly accompanied by continual and acute pain.

Torticollis  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.)

Torticollis can limit a person's ability to perform. As a localized disability this disorder does not directly affect other body systems. Because it can be more acute during times of anxiety or stress, ST was once thought to be a psychiatric disorder. Research has revealed, however, that while ST does indeed seem to originate in the brain, it is evidently a neurological disorder instead of a psychiatric one.

While there is still no cure, many people with ST can relief from the agony and disability caused by this neurological disorder with a combination of treatments including medications, botulinum toxin injections, physical therapy, alternative treatments and stress reduction techniques. If untreated, there can be permanent limitation of neck movement.

Spontaneous recovery can be found in up to 20% of people within 5 years of onset, although this is more common in those afflicted before 40, or with a milder form. There is no uniform treatment for ST, but medications are usually the first line of defense. Should these fail, the approved treatment of choice is chemo-denervation, which involves Botulinum toxin (BOTOX) injections in the contracting muscles. This has proved to be a safe and effective method of relieving pain and lessening spasms.

Surgery is not recommended as an initial defense, but it can be helpful for people who are unresponsive to other treatments. 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.