Dystonia/Tremor DisorderWritten by Dr. Michael L. Johnson
Dystonia is not a new condition. It affects thousands of people every year. Contrary to popular belief, dystonia is not a normal consequence of growing older. As a matter of fact, onset of dystonia can be at any age. Dystonia is not a discriminatory condition, as it will affect men, women or children. Presentation of dystonia may be varied. Classically, dystonia is defined as a movement disorder, which can affect any part of body. The abnormal movement can be focal, such as twitching of an eyelid, or global, which could include arm and hand, a leg, or even entire upper torso. A dystonic movement disorder can also include abnormal muscle tone, twitching, or an unusual angulation of a joint. There are certain characteristic movement patterns that are specific and diagnostic to certain regions of brain. Depending on area of brain involved with tremor, different symptoms may be apparent. There are three primary types of dystonia: basal ganglionic, mesolimbic, and dystonia from cerebellum. All three types are from brain or brainstem, but presentation can be clinically different with symptoms. Historically, treatment for dystonia has been surgery, drug therapy and/or botulinum toxin A injections into affected muscle. Botulin toxin paralyzes muscle tissue temporarily. It does not fix original cause of dystonia. At best, effectiveness of botulinum toxin A is three to four months. At this time, body develops an auto-immune response to treatments, therefore effectiveness of injections is diminished. And until recently, this was only effective treatment.
| | Insomnia/FatigueWritten by Dr. Michael L. Johnson
Insomnia and fatigue are two sides of same coin: if a person is unable to sleep at night, they are usually fatigued during day. However, some people get eight to 12 hours of sleep a night and still have fatigue. The top part of brain stem is called mesencephalon, and it determines our sleeping/waking patterns. The specific term is "mesencephalic reticular activating system" which is a three-dollar phrase for “top of brain stem.” If mesencephalon is firing, you will be awake. If mesencephalon decreases frequency of firing, you will be tired and unable to stay awake. Patients who experience insomnia probably have a mesencephalon that is over-firing. Patients with fatigue who seem to get enough sleep may have a decreased frequency of firing of mesencephalon. A thorough neurological examination should be performed in order to determine exact state of nervous system. As a Board Certified Chiropractic Neurologist, I utilize treatment modalities that increase or decrease frequency of firing on mid-brain. For example, visual stimulation with red or green light from left side crosses through mid-brain and increases
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