Cambridgeshire

About the group

This group started in 2010 and meets to give members an opportunity to get together for mutual support, refreshments and a chat. The group arranges a wide range of activities including speaker meetings and social events. The group has a number of volunteers helping to run and organise the meetings and they also liaise closely with the Norfolk and Suffolk group. The group holds a number of meetings at the Addenbrookes Treatment Centre.

Future meeting dates

Click here to see upcoming meetings.

Group Contact

Group Contact Name:	Bettina Starke
Group Contact Number:	0845 899 7106
Group Contact Email:	[email protected]

Please remember all our support groups are organised and run by volunteers. Please bear this in mind when getting in touch with the group contact.

Calls cost 5p per minute plus your phone company's access charge.

Please note the above contact details are for information about the local group only. If you want information about dystonia and its treatment or to discuss how dystonia is making you feel then you should contact the Dystonia Society helpline on 020 7793 3650 or [email protected]

Latest

Office temporarily closed

Our office is now closed until further notice though our team will continue to maintain business as usual working from home. Due to this our phone lines are currently closed, however, you can still leave a message by calling 0207 793 3651 or by sending your enquiries via email at [email protected] and someone will get back to you as soon as possible.
Coronavirus and Dystonia

We’re here for you. Here’s the latest guidance on coronavirus and dystonia, and where to get support. View our guidance
Office closed for the festive period

Our office will be closed for the festive period, closing at 4pm on Friday 20th December 2019 and reopening on Monday 6th January 2020.
Reach Out, Reach All

Reach Out, Reach All is a new Dystonia UK project aiming to produce a series of short films about the milestone moments in our lives that for someone with dystonia present unique challenges. You can help us achieve our goal - support our crowdfunder today!

North Wales

This group was set up in 2013 and meets to give members an opportunity to meet for support and a chat over refreshments. They meet 3/4 times a year.
North Shropshire Borders

This group was set up in 2013 and meets to give members an opportunity to meet for support and a chat over refreshments. They meet 3/4 times a year.
North West & Midlands Group for dystonias affecting speech, eating & swallowing

This is a condition-specific group for support with dystonias affecting speech, eating and swallowing.
Younger Adults Group

Set up in 2013, this group is for younger adults with all forms of dystonia. The group meets virtually through a closed facebook page that gives its members the opportunity to share experiences and support one another.
Voice Group

This group was set up in 2012 and is for all those in the UK who is affected by voice dystonia. At present the group meets virtually through a closed facebook page and offers support and an opportunity to share experiences.
Northern Ireland

This group was set up in 2010 and meets to give members an opportunity to get together for mutual support, refreshments and a chat.
South Wales

This group was set up in 2012 and meets to give members an opportunity to hear speakers and meet for a coffee and chat. The group meets 3/4 times a year in a variety of venues.
Edinburgh

This group started in 2013 and holds meetings every two months, giving members an opportunity to share their experiences of living with dystonia, their current treatments, concerns, tips and tricks to dealing with dystonia amongst other things.
Inverness

Providing support to people affected by dystonia living in and near Inverness.
Aberdeen

Meets every month in Aberdeen for networking and support

Blinking and eye problems

Most abnormal blinking or twitching of the eye clears up quickly - within a few hours of when the symptoms appear. If the symptoms do not go away one possible cause is eye dystonia.
More detail on tremor

Many people with dystonia experience head shake especially if the dystonia is affecting their neck. People often ask us about the difference between head shaking caused by essential tremor and that caused by dystonia. In this article Dr Marie-Helene Marion explains what the differences are and how neurologists tell if it is dystonia or not.
Foot dystonia

Foot dystonia is uncontrollable and often painful muscle contractions in the foot which causes a twisting or turning in of the foot. Foot dystonia is believed to be caused by incorrect messages from the brain to the muscles in the foot or lower leg.
Tremor

Tremor is an uncontrollable shaking or oscillation of a part of the body. Dystonic tremor is a type of tremor which occurs in conjunction with dystonia.
Oromandibular dystonia

Mouth, tongue or jaw dystonia (the medical term is Oromandibular dystonia) is characterised by forceful contractions of the face, jaw or tongue. It can cause difficulty opening or closing the mouth, often affecting chewing and speech.
What is dystonia?

Dystonia is the term used to describe uncontrollable and sometimes painful muscle spasms caused by incorrect signals from the brain. It is estimated to affect at least 70,000 people in the UK. There are a large number of different types of dystonia which affect people in widely differing ways. Unfortunately there is not yet a cure.
Blepharospasm

Eye dystonia (the medical term is Blepharospasm) is uncontrollable and often painful muscle contractions around the eye. Symptoms of eye dystonia may include excessive blinking and involuntary closure of the eyelids.
Neck dystonia

Neck dystonia (the medical name is cervical dystonia, or sometimes spasmodic torticollis) is uncontrollable and often painful muscle contractions in the neck which cause awkward postures and discomfort. The head generally pulls to one side, backwards or forwards.
The role of muscles in neck dystonia

The purpose of this article is to give a brief explanation of how some of the muscles in the neck can cause the abnormal movements and positions seen in neck dystonia.
Hemifacial spasm

Hemifacial spasm causes the muscles on one side of the face to contract. In its mildest form this may cause no more than a slight inconvenience, although the symptoms may still be disfiguring and socially embarrassing. In more severe cases, the contractions may interfere with vision, since the other eye is usually unaffected, it rarely causes loss of sight.