My name is Danielle and I am a graduate student at Temple University majoring in String Pedagogy. I am a violinist stricken with the neurological disorder “Focal Dystonia”. Shortly after beginning my graduate studies in 2002, my ring finger on my left hand began to pull back uncontrollably. After a few months, this problem worsened to the point where my fingers would literally ball into a fist when I attempted to play any technical passages. After numerous visits to multiple specialists, I was finally diagnosed in 2004. At that point, I stopped my studies and focused on treatments and rehab. I tried various treatments such as: hand soaks, acupuncture, rehabilitation therapy, rolfing, and botox injections. The rehab, rolfing and botox injections were extremely successful. Since 2004 I have been receiving botox injections once every 3 months, which slightly weakens the muscle so that I am better able to control it. I returned to Temple this past fall to complete my degree, although still unable to play very difficult technical material, I am currently able to play many lyrical pieces, so I consider this to be a success story!
Many musicians are unaware of this disorder, or unaware of the fact that there is a musical life after Dystonia. I would like to do a compilation of your Dystonia stories, to raise awareness, and find out interesting new ideas, treatments, etc. I will not use any names in my paper to conserve privacy. Please address the following points:1) What instrument do you play
2) Describe how your dystonia began
3) When were you diagnosed
4) What treatments did you undergo or are you undergoing
5) Current status
Please reply or email your response: kreisler20@hotmail.com.
Thanks!
