Dystonia Bulletin Board

In December 2009 two symptoms suddenly appeared: 1) Involuntary shoulder muscle movements; and 2) Hesitant/stuttered/difficult speech. Suspecting a minor stroke I had ECG/CT/MRI tests, but nothing was found. The speech problems worsened over the next 3/4 months, whilst the shoulder spasms remained constant and relatively minor. The speech gradually improved and 'levelled out' to about 90% normal, while the spasms worsened to affect trapezius, pectoralis and tricep (all LHS) and they have now become almost relentless. My speech in the last 3/4 days has also started to deteriorate again, though I don't know yet whether that's due to a relapse, or the effects of the Clonazepam I've just been prescribed.

After 7-and-a-half months(!) I got to see a neurologist who quickly identified the three affected muscles and diagnosed Focal Dystonia (though Google research suggests Segmental Dystonia might be more accurate). I've also come across Myoclonic Dystonia, a type of late-onset Segmental Dystonia, that affects the muscles in the arms, neck, and torso, the symptoms of which sound very familiar to my own condition: 'It causes sudden, 'jerk-like' spasms that are similar in appearance to the spasms that someone has when they get an electric shock...'.

The neurologist completely discounted my suggestion that the speech problems were related to Dystonia, but I've since learned that speech problems certainly are, or can be, a symptom of this disorder. One description of Adductor Spasmodic Dysphonia - 'Words are often cut off or difficult to start, speech may be choppy and sound similar to stuttering' - is precisely what I experienced when my speech was at its worse.

I'd be interested to hear of anyone else having what appears to be a mixture of two types of Dystonia, and I'd appreciate views on whether it's actually possible to have, for example, Segmental (or Myclonic) Dystonia and Spasmodic Dysphonia at the same time.

Many thanks!