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Torticollis
October 31, 2009 |
It’s a condition that can sometimes appear out of the blue.
“This is not just simply a stiff neck that one awakens with in the morning and goes
away after a day or two,” says Dr. Debra Roggow. It’s called torticollis, a condition
where the neck starts to twist and stays in that position. While it looks uncomfortable,
it isn’t, unless a person tries to correct it on their own.
“This is a severe disorder of muscle spasm where the patient has a hard time even
straightening out their head and turning their head,” adds Dr. Roggow. She says
it’s the abnormal contraction of certain muscles that cause the neck to twist.
Certain family histories, head injuries, even adverse reactions to medications can
prompt it. “There is an entity where a baby can be born with a rhi neck, more often
it’s a secondary injury or it just happens. It just happens over a few weeks and
the patient can not straighten out their neck,” explains Dr. Roggow.
Sometimes a series of botox injections can help. “There might be pain and soreness
of the injection site. Patients may notice their muscle is weakening, that’s what
it’s supposed to do, then they have to be careful they don’t overload the muscle,”
Dr. Roggow warns.
Anyone who experiences spasms in the neck, especially while swallowing or breathing should contact their physician since these are some of the symptoms associated with
torticollis.
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