Treatment Options for Dystonia

Although dystonia has no cure, there are a number of treatments available for finding relief from the symptoms.

Medication Injections

This treatment involves the injection of medications directly into the affected muscles.

Drug Therapies

There are many medications that are commonly used to treat dystonia. No single drug works for every individual, and several trials of medications may be necessary to determine which is most appropriate for you. Most of the medications used to treat dystonia work by affecting the neurotransmitter chemicals in the nervous system that execute the brain’s instructions for muscle movement and the control of movement.¹

Rhizotomy and Pallidotomy

Surgeries such as rhizotomy and pallidotomy involve the destruction or removal of certain parts of the brain (pallidotomy) or the cutting of nerves in the spinal cord (rhizotomy).

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Therapy for Dystonia

DBS is a brain stimulation therapy that offers an adjustable, reversible method of treatment for dystonia. The treatment uses an implanted medical device similar to a pacemaker to deliver electrical stimulation to precisely targeted areas of the brain. Stimulation of these areas enables the brain circuits that control movement to function better.

DBS therapy is designed to control some of the primary symptoms of dystonia, such as muscle spasms, twisting, involuntary contractions, posturing, and uncontrolled movements.

Next: About DBS Therapy