What Are The Types Of Dystonia?

Paroxysmal Dystonia

Paroxysmal dystonia is a type of dystonia characterized by episodic, short periods of involuntary movements that only manifest during said episodic attacks. These paroxysmal episodes can be triggered by several factors, including alcohol consumption, fatigue, and coffee consumption. There is no characteristic duration for how long a patient's paroxysmal dystonia attack can last. An attack may present for a few seconds up to a few hours. A patient does not experience a loss of consciousness or alteration of consciousness when they have a paroxysmal dystonia episode, and their senses and mind are also unaffected. Paroxysmal dystonia can often appear similar to epilepsy to the general population, but episodes are not considered seizures without an altered state of consciousness. Some individuals affected by paroxysmal dystonia may have multiple episodes every day, and others may only have them once in a while.

Blepharospasm

Blepharospasm refers to an involuntary twitch or spasm of the eyelid. Patients with this condition could experience excessive eyelid blinking, and eyelid fluttering may be present as well. Most cases of this condition are temporary, and symptoms last for a few days before resolving on their own without treatment. In a small percentage of cases, patients could develop chronic, persistent eyelid spasms that disrupt daily life. Sensitivity to bright light and fatigue are common, and the condition could occasionally lead to facial spasms. Blepharospasm is the result of abnormal functioning of the basal ganglia, and the cause of this malfunction is currently unknown. Treatment options for blepharospasm include botulinum toxin injections into the eyelid muscles and surgical treatments such as a myectomy. This procedure removes some of the muscles and nerves of the eyelids, and it improves symptoms in seventy-five to eighty-five percent of individuals with this condition.

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