Torticollis

What is Torticollis?

This is a condition also referred to as cervical dystonia and also known as spasmodic torticollis or just torticollis. This is a condition which is painful and is caused by the neck muscles involuntarily contract, causing the head to twist one side to the other. It can also cause the head to uncontrollably tilt backward and forwards.

Torticollis is a disorder which is rare and can develop at any age, even at infancy but it most often develops in women who are middle-aged. The symptoms begin gradually and reach a point where they do not get any worse.

Torticollis has no cure but the disorder often resolves on its own. Botulin toxin injected into the muscles which are affected can often reduce the symptoms and signs of torticollis. Surgery can be necessary but this is very rare.

Torticollis Symptoms

Twisted neck

The contractions of the muscle involved in torticollis will cause the head to twist in an assortment of directions, which include:

• Chin toward shoulder
• Chin straight up
• Ear toward shoulder
• Chin straight down

The most frequent sort of twisting linked with torticollis is the chin being pulled towards the shoulder. Some individuals experience a mixture of head postures which are atypical. Jerking motion of the head can also occur.

Pain

Approximately 2/3 of individuals who have torticollis also will experience pain in the neck which radiates into the shoulders. This disorder can also cause headaches which are severe. In many individuals, the pain from torticollis can be disabling as well as exhausting.

Tremor

Torticollis can also cause tremors in the hand or arm.

Shoulder elevation

This disorder can also cause the shoulder on the affected side to pull up towards the ear.

Since torticollis is caused by unusual contractions of the muscles on one side of the neck, individuals may appear with the head turned to one side. The muscles of the neck as well as those amid the shoulder and neck will be tender and tense.

Individuals with torticollis will customarily be reluctant to turn their head to one side and may have their head turned somewhat away from the side of the uneasiness.

If any of the following symptoms occur, the individual should see their physician immediately as they suggest irritation or injury to the central nervous system:

• Trouble swallowing or breathing
• Pins and needles feeling or numbness in arms or legs
• Urinary or fecal incontinence, urinary hesitancy
• Weakness in legs or arms
• Impaired speech
• Difficulty walking

Torticollis Causes

Scientists believe that the symptoms of signs or torticollis can result from a problem in the brain’s ability to manage chemical messages which allow the cells of the brain to communicate with each other.

In many cases of this disorder, physicians do not know why some individuals develop the disorder and others do not. In some cases, it appears to be linked to:

• Shoulder, neck or head injuries
• Strokes
• Brain or spinal cord tumors
• Drugs such as antipsychotic, anti-nausea as well as antidepressant agents
• Toxins, such as carbon monoxide and heavy metals

Risk factors for torticollis include:

Age

While this disorder can occur at any age, even infants, it most commonly begins between the ages of 40 and 60.

Sex

Women as nearly twice as likely as men to develop torticollis.

Family history

If a close member of the family has torticollis or any other movement disorder, an individual is at a risk of developing the disorder.

Torticollis can lead to:

Nerve damage

The sustaining of contractions of the muscle linked with torticollis can cause permanent injury to the compressed nerves. The symptoms include numbness, tingling as well as pain.

Other parts of the body involvement

In some individuals who begin with Torticollis, it eventually can develop similar symptoms in the arm, trunk, jaw, or face.

Depression

The pain and disability that may be caused by torticollis may cause depression in the individual.

Torticollis Treatment

The treatment for torticollis is aimed at relaxation of the contracted muscles of the neck which are involved. These treatments can include drugs, physical devices, botulin toxin, as well as surgery. In many individuals, torticollis will resolve by itself in several days to a few weeks. In a few individuals, continuing problems with the neck may continue for months even years. If these neck muscle spasms persist the doctor may refer the individual to a neurologist or surgeon.

Torticollis Medications

If the torticollis was caused by trauma or by drugs, the primary care physician may prescribe anti-inflammatory medications as well as muscle relaxants. These medications normally relieve the symptoms within a couple of days. Common medications used to treat acute, torticollis which is spasmodic include:

• Benztropine (Cogentin)
• Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)

These medications are normally given into the muscle or by IV. The physician may add oral relaxants or benzodiazepine such as:

• Ativan
• Valium

These medications are continued in oral form for 48 to 72 hours to avoid any symptoms to recur. Massage therapy and ice packs may also be used for relief as needed.

If the individual has neck muscle spasms which are chronic, a neurologist can give local injections of botulinum A toxin. This toxin comes from Clostridium botulinumbacteria.

This toxin acts locally to prevent the muscle from contracting in those where it is injected. This toxin usually can stop torticollis from getting worse and can even lead to complete recovery.

Torticollis Surgery

Surgery is frequently reserved for only a very few worse cases. With this treatment, some of the nerves in the upper neck are selected to be separated in order to prevent muscle contraction. This treatment normally helps but sometimes the neck will return to its twisted position after a number of months.

Torticollis Pictures