Any advice on alleviating the pain from spasmodic torticollis?

Question:

My mother has a degenerative condition called spasmodic torticollis. Her neck is pulled to one side and she lives in constant agony. She has been getting botox injections in her neck for years, but has become immune to the treatment over the past couple of years. Does anyone know of any other treatments for this condition?

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Marshall

Answers:
What you describe occurs in about 15% of people using the Botox. In some cases, after a waiting period, some people are able to retake botox. A surgical procedure which has been perfected is called Selective Denervation. Most neurologists would suggest you try botox and oral medications first but that is up to you to decide. Should you opt for this operation, be cautious who you choose as a surgeon as there are less than a handful of qualified ones available. With the right surgeon, results have been positive. Other methods of treatment would be biofeedback (learning how to relax), physical therapy, stretching exercises, support group attendance, spiritual help, positive thinking, but be sure these are done, where applicable, under the guidance of a person knowledgeable about ST. For best results see a neurologist but make sure it is a neurologist who specializes in movement disorders. Besides medications, these are the only current options. Oral medications such as Klonopin or Artane or others are used along with Botox, which may increase the degree of success, but side effects can exist with these.

Other Answers:
Acupuncture and Regular therapeutic massage, it may very well be something not actually completely curable so to speak, however if you find a caring therapist who knows what he or she is doing it could alleviate symptoms and give a greater range of painless motion. I don't even want to think about what kind of trauma the bot-ox has already caused.
This also would be dependent upon how she acquired this malfunction..heredity, spinal problems, injury..

Please try with a skilled acupuncturist, you will be benefitted.
Source(s):
SHREE SWASTHYAYOG TREATMENT TRG. AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE
R.H.19, JHULELAL SOC., SEC-2E, AIROLI, NAVI MUMBAI, INDIA.

When nurse Annie says that drugs, surgery, physical therapy and positive thinking are the ONLY available treatments, she means to say that those are the only treatments she know about. In fact there are other options. Many of which would go on my list long before a surgical denervation. Denervation would leave the spastic muscle paralyzed. Not much better than chronic spasm I don't think. Do you? I think acupuncture is a viable alternative that I would explore if I were your mom, but I have some other ideas if you want to hear them.

Find a chiropractor or massage therapist that can do A.R.T. or myofascial release. She has to begin working to lengthen that SCM (sterno-cleido-mastoid muscle). Short wave diathermy will help in addition to the above to lengthen the muscle. Russian E-stim to the opposite trapezius muscle. When the current begins, your mother should attempt to actively rotate her head away from the pads on her trapezius and attempt to put her ear on the pad. At this point she should also look down and away from the pad. (Sorry if that sounds confusing, email me if you need clarification). She also MUST receive mobilization to the occiput and the first two cervical vertebrae on the side opposite of spasm. This is critical. If possible, the manipulation should be done in a dark room with light shining in her eyes from the side of spasm.

Your mother also needs to get on a good detox. She needs to clean out her system and let her body do some healing. In addition to the detox: Valerian root, Passion flower, Magnesium and Calcium.

You should be able to find a physician who can help you with this program. I would stay away from MD's for now. An osteopath or a chiropractor would probably be the best help. If the oseo. wants to do the same old thing i.e., botox inj., don't walk, run away and find someone who will really help.

see a chropractor. They are the true experts in muscolosketetal pain

Read the testimonials on my page. Let me know if you have a
question.

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Any advice on alleviating the pain from spasmodic torticollis?

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