Can a brain injury cause dystonia?

Dystonia is a type of movement control problem that can occur after a brain injury. It refers to repetitive twisting, abnormal posturing or having the body ‘lock in’ to various positions. Dystonia can affect just one body area including the neck, mouth, jaw, trunk or a limb.

What kind of trauma causes dystonia?

Post-Traumatic dystonia is a dystonia that may occur after suffering trauma, usually to the affected body part. For example, some patients may develop foot dystonia after twisting or breaking their ankle or dystonia of their trunk after trauma. Some have developed cervical dystonia after sustaining whiplash injuries.

What are the common complications of traumatic brain injuries?

Physical complications

• Seizures. Some people with traumatic brain injury will develop seizures.
• Fluid buildup in the brain (hydrocephalus).
• Infections.
• Blood vessel damage.
• Headaches.
• Vertigo.

Can emotional trauma cause dystonia?

In most cases the cause for dystonia is unknown. In a small number of patients, trauma precedes the onset of the dystonia. Significant head trauma is a well-recognized precipitating factor in dystonia.

What happens if dystonia is left untreated?

Children with generalized dystonia are developmentally normal; however, if left untreated, the dystonia can cause dramatic twisting and contortions resulting in inability to run, or even walk, inability to feed oneself, inability to dress oneself, slurred speech or trouble swallowing.

Can a concussion cause cervical dystonia?

Cervical dystonia is a painful condition that can arise after a head injury.

How long does dystonia last?

Movements can vary from brief jerks to prolonged muscle spasms often involving the eyes, mouth, throat and neck. Dystonic symptoms typically occur between 2-24 hours after the first drug dose is administered. Signs may persist for hours or even days and the intensity of the symptoms vary.

How does dystonia happen?

Researchers believe that dystonia results from an abnormality in or damage to the basal ganglia or other brain regions that control movement. There may be abnormalities in the brain’s ability to process a group of chemicals called neurotransmitters that help cells in the brain communicate with each other.

How long does it take to heal from a traumatic brain injury?

The prognosis for mild TBI is usually better than for a moderate TBI, and the prognosis for moderate TBI is usually better than for a severe TBI. With a concussion (mild TBI), most people recover most or all of their brain function within 3 months following injury, with most recovering sooner.

What is considered severe TBI?

A severe TBI is a term used when a person experiences an extended period of unconsciousness (coma) or amnesia following trauma.

Does anxiety cause dystonia?

However, psychogenic dystonia can occur with or without psychological symptoms. Furthermore, other forms of dystonia are often accompanied by psychological symptoms such as anxiety and depression.

Is dystonia a mental illness?

Dystonia is a neurological disorder that affects the physical body, but the impact goes far deeper and may affect a person’s emotional and mental health. Individuals diagnosed with dystonia commonly experience symptoms that affect more than how the body moves.