Focal Dystonia Overview

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Learn About Focal Dystonia

What is the definition of Focal Dystonia?
Focal dystonia is a disorder of the neurological system that causes muscle contractions in one area of the body, such as the face, vocal cords, neck, jaw, fingers, wrists, hands, or feet. Task-specific focal dystonia is a type of dystonia that causes muscle contractions in areas of the body associated with specific tasks, such as writer’s cramp.
What are the symptoms of Focal Dystonia?
Symptoms of focal dystonia depend on the affected area. Focal dystonia commonly affects the eyelids, jaw, tongue, neck, vocal cords, hand, or forearm but can occur in other areas. Symptoms of focal dystonia may progress, stay the same or stop, and then recur. The initial symptom of focal dystonia may be reduced muscle coordination, such as dropping things. As focal dystonia progresses, symptoms may include muscle pain, twitching muscles, muscle cramps, and abnormal postures of the affected area. Secondary symptoms of focal dystonia may include fatigue, trouble focusing, blurred vision, mood swings, depression, short temper, and difficulty sleeping.
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What are the current treatments for Focal Dystonia?
Treatment for focal dystonia may include lifestyle changes; physical therapy; occupational therapy; speech therapy; massage; stretches; medications, such as trihexyphenidyl, tetrabenazine, carbidopa/levodopa, clonazepam, valium, Baclofen, benzodiazepines, and Botulinum toxin injection; or surgery, such as deep brain stimulation or selective denervation.
Who are the top Focal Dystonia Local Doctors?
Advanced in Focal Dystonia
Dr. Raghav P. Govindarajan
Neurology
Advanced in Focal Dystonia
Dr. Raghav P. Govindarajan
Neurology

Hshs Medical Group Inc

3 Saint Elizabeth Blvd, 
O Fallon, IL 
 (91.2 mi)
618-641-5803
Languages Spoken:
English
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Accepting New Patients
Offers Telehealth

Raghav Govindarajan is a Neurologist in O Fallon, Illinois. Dr. Govindarajan and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Focal Dystonia. His top areas of expertise are Myasthenia Gravis, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease), Primary Lateral Sclerosis, Thymectomy, and Thrombectomy. Dr. Govindarajan is currently accepting new patients.

Experienced in Focal Dystonia
Dr. Andrew J. Yochum
Family Medicine
Experienced in Focal Dystonia
Dr. Andrew J. Yochum
Family Medicine

Southern Illinois Hospital Services

2553 Ken Gray Blvd, 
W Frankfort, IL 
 (51.4 mi)
618-932-3937
Languages Spoken:
English
See accepted insurances
Accepting New Patients

Andrew Yochum is a Family Medicine provider in W Frankfort, Illinois. Dr. Yochum and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Focal Dystonia. His top areas of expertise are Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Lung Metastases, Familial Hypertension, Endoscopy, and Ureteroscopy. Dr. Yochum is currently accepting new patients.

 
 
 
 
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Experienced in Focal Dystonia
Dr. Lori M. Guyton
Neurology
Experienced in Focal Dystonia
Dr. Lori M. Guyton
Neurology

Select Physical Therapy Holdings Inc

326 E Main St, 
West Frankfort, IL 
 (52.2 mi)
618-937-6200
Languages Spoken:
English
See accepted insurances
Accepting New Patients

Lori Guyton is a Neurologist in West Frankfort, Illinois. Dr. Guyton and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Focal Dystonia. Her top areas of expertise are Essential Tremor, Memory Loss, Parkinson's Disease, and Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis (RMS). Dr. Guyton is currently accepting new patients.

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What are the latest Focal Dystonia Clinical Trials?
Phase 1 Clinical Trial for MR Guided Focused Ultrasound (FUS) Pallidotomy for the Treatment of Task Specific Focal Hand Dystonia (TSFD)
Phase 1 Clinical Trial for MR Guided Focused Ultrasound (FUS) Pallidotomy for the Treatment of Task Specific Focal Hand Dystonia (TSFD)
Enrollment Status: Recruiting
Publish Date: February 13, 2025
Intervention Type: Device
Study Phase: Not Applicable

Summary: The purpose of this study is to assess the safety and effectiveness of MRI-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) for treating task specific focal hand dystonias (TSFD). TSFD is a type of dystonia that affects hand movements during specific tasks such as writing, playing instruments or typing, often causing involuntarily movements or cramping.

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Safety and Impact on Quality of Life of Focused Ultrasound Pallidotomy for Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy in Pediatric and Young Adult Subjects
Safety and Impact on Quality of Life of Focused Ultrasound Pallidotomy for Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy in Pediatric and Young Adult Subjects
Enrollment Status: Recruiting
Publish Date: February 11, 2025
Intervention Type: Device
Study Phase: Not Applicable

Summary: The primary objective of the proposed study is to evaluate the safety of ExAblate Transcranial MRgFUS as a tool for creating bilateral or unilateral lesions in the globus pallidus (GPi) in patients with treatment-refractory secondary dystonia due to dyskinetic cerebral palsy

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What are the Latest Advances for Focal Dystonia?
Motor network reorganization associated with rTMS-induced writing improvement in writer's cramp dystonia.
Motor network reorganization associated with rTMS-induced writing improvement in writer's cramp dystonia.
Journal: medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences
Published: January 27, 2025
Engaging dystonia networks with subthalamic stimulation.
Engaging dystonia networks with subthalamic stimulation.
Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Published: January 08, 2025
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Challenges in Describing Tremor and Dystonia.
Challenges in Describing Tremor and Dystonia.
Journal: Neurology
Published: December 26, 2024
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