|
Questions posted in the
Neurology and Neurosurgery Forum have been answered by doctors from The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
Question Title: Dystonia questionsForum: Neurology Forum
| ||||
I recently received a diagnosis of dystonia, after several years of various symptoms. The only medications I was taking previous to the DX were Phrenilin and Methocarbamol. Both had been prescribed a couple of years ago by my neuro for tension headaches and muscle tightness. I don't like taking drugs and so used them only if I was really uncomfortable. This was previous to the Dx of dystonia. Over the summer I had increased muscle tightness and headaches and so began to use them on a more regular basis. Then I noticed that my arms, hands and fingers were getting into odd positions and though I could get them back into a normal position with no problem, a few minutes later (especially if I was doing something with my hands), they'd be spastic looking again! I went back to the neuro and he said I had a Movement Disorder and after further questioning said it was dystonia and he has referred me to a specialist (appt is a couple of months away). Meanwhile I have been taking 6 mg of Artane. It has helped a lot with my general overall tightness, and has relieved the fatigue a lot, but it doesn't really do much for the posturing and leaves me feeling kind of fuzzy and spacey. In reading about dystonia I learned that sometimes it is caused by certain medications (antipsychotics). I have never been on antipsychotics, but am wondering if the increased use of Methocarbamol and Phrenilin this summer could have brought the dystonia on. I am really terrified that I will never get normal usage of my hands and arms back and I feel kind of embarassed in public when I find them in their odd positions. Complicating things is the fact that my original symptoms several years ago, which brought me to the neuro, are apparently not connected to dystonia. They were atrophy of my thigh muscle, and various sensory problems, as well as a lot of twitching, and a buzzing sensation. I have had CMT, ALS and radiculopathy ruled out by EMG (3 in 3 years), and MRI's of entire spine and 2 of brain are normal (although I do have some disc problems at C 5,6,7) but they do not relate to the symptoms I am having. About a year ago I fell and broke my ankle and thus began this whole round of testing etc. when the orthopediast noted my lower leg was atrophied. I am a 46 year old female and I am very concerned that my life is about to drastically change with this diagnosis. I am particularly concerned about driving my kids around because the Artane does make me feel like I'm functioning at around 70% mentally. Although I don't have a problem with my hands, arms on the steering wheel, they just grip the wheel very tightly! Is it possible that the medications brought on the dystonia? What other medication could I take that might make me feel less spacey, and might actually help the posturing? Should I wait until December when I see the specialist to pursue this further or go somewhere else (where?) sooner? I have searched the literature on the side effects of these drugs and have not found any mention of dystonia caused by them. Certainly dystonia is caused by some drugs particularly drugs such as antipsychotics which antagonize the effect of dopamine in the brain, dopamine antagonism is not one of the effects of the drugs you mention so this side effect does not suggest itself on either a theoretical basis or on the basis of experience with the drugs to date. There are numerous medications in addition to Artane which can be used to treat dystonia, many of which are not as sedatingas Artane. these include Dopa which is used to treat parkinsons disease, Clozapine a new type of antipsychotic, Lamotrigine a new anti-epileptic, and Botilimum which is injected into the muscles every few months causing relaxation which prevents the dystonis from becoming too severe. Finally, I think your best case scenario is that you would end up with a well controlled disorder which although it is chronic, is treated to the point where medication keep the symptoms under control allowing you to lead a perfectly normal life without side effects from medication. This scenario is entirely possible in your case, I would try to see a movement disorders specialist as soon as possible in order to get the process underway.
|
| |||