What are the symptoms? Expand Symptoms of cervical dystonia include: neck twisting neck being pulled forwards, backwards or sideways stiffness in the neck tremor pain Stress and anxiety are known to exacerbate the symptoms.
What are the causes? Expand Dystonia is caused by incorrect signals from the brain to the affected body part but the causes for this are not yet fully understood.
Who does it affect? Expand Symptoms usually appear between the ages of 30 and 50. It is the most common dystonia and affects an estimated 18,000 adults in the UK.
What are the common treatments? Expand Botulinum toxin injections Oral medication Physiotherapy Deep brain stimulation Occupational therapy
How will it affect my life? Expand You may need to find ways to adapt and might have to learn new ways to complete everyday tasks. However, it is possible to live well with the condition and Dystonia UK is here to support you through all stages including initial onset, diagnosis, finding treatment and beyond. You may find these coping techniques helpful: Applying light pressure to points on your neck or face, such as the chin, back of the head, neck, cheek or upper face. The touch is usually (but not always) more effective on the side of the head with the dystonia. Reclining or sitting with head support.