Cervical dystonia is a condition that causes the muscles in the neck to tighten and spasm without your control. If you have cervical dystonia, your head may turn in an unusual way, or it may be forced into an abnormal posture. Common signs of cervical dystonia vary from person to person and may include any combination of the following:

• Uncomfortable pulling or drawing in the neck or shifting of the head to one side
• Neck Pain
• Aches and pains around the neck that worsen over time
• Head or hand tremors
• Symptoms that progress to involve adjacent body parts

Diagnosing cervical dystonia can be a challenge, especially in its early or mild stages because the symptoms may be slight at first and, differ from person to person. Cervical dystonia is sometimes diagnosed incorrectly because it resembles other physical complaints such as stiff neck or stress. In some cases, patients may suffer with cervical dystonia for a year or more without proper diagnosis.

Cervical dystonia is a progressive disease although, in up to approximately 20% of patients, the symptoms go away completely. This is known as remission. However, it is important to understand that the symptoms often return. For most patients, symptoms usually stop worsening after 5 years. Although there is no cure for cervical dystonia, there is a good chance that your symptoms can be successfully managed with proper treatment.