WRITER'S CRAMP is also called-MOGIGRAPHIA and also SCRIVENER'S PALSY.It is spasm affecting certain muscles of the hand or fingers.It can be Focal- wherein limited to Hand or Task specific wherein when one engages in a particular activity giving rise to pain.
CAUSES=
Excessive fine motor activity coupled with inappropriate writing.
Some other studies have made out basal ganglia problems as the cause.
Musician's cramp is also a form of writer's cramp.
SYMPTOMS=
Initially there is pen dropping,Inability to hold pen for long times,frequent pain.Later progresses to tremors of hand, Pain while holding books.
In some cases, symptoms may progress and then plateau for years, or stop progressing entirely. The progression may be delayed by treatment or adaptive lifestyle changes, while forced continued use may make symptoms progress more rapidly. In others, the symptoms may progress to total disability, making some of the more risky forms of treatment worth considering.
TREATMENT=
1)Altering the grip of the pen and/or increasing the diameter of the pen used is the first step in treatment.
Patients can use a writing device or other means of transcription, such as typing or dictation.
2)Behavioral changes may help.
Biofeedback, hypnotherapy, and relaxation therapy have been tried.
3)Several classes of drugs have been used in patients with writer's cramp. Anticholinergics have been used with little or no effects.. Beta-blockers have helped the tremor in a few patients. Botulinum toxin injections seem to have the best results.
4)Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) delivered to the forearm flexor muscles for a 2-week period has been found to improve symptoms for up to 3 weeks after treatment.
CONCLUSION=
Approximately 5% of patients have spontaneous remission, most probably in the first 5 years. However, the majority of these patients have relapses.
The prognosis is good usually.
Do not consider such people to be mentally unsound.
Behavioural therapy helps a lot.
CAUSES=
Excessive fine motor activity coupled with inappropriate writing.
Some other studies have made out basal ganglia problems as the cause.
Musician's cramp is also a form of writer's cramp.
SYMPTOMS=
Initially there is pen dropping,Inability to hold pen for long times,frequent pain.Later progresses to tremors of hand, Pain while holding books.
In some cases, symptoms may progress and then plateau for years, or stop progressing entirely. The progression may be delayed by treatment or adaptive lifestyle changes, while forced continued use may make symptoms progress more rapidly. In others, the symptoms may progress to total disability, making some of the more risky forms of treatment worth considering.
TREATMENT=
1)Altering the grip of the pen and/or increasing the diameter of the pen used is the first step in treatment.
Patients can use a writing device or other means of transcription, such as typing or dictation.
2)Behavioral changes may help.
Biofeedback, hypnotherapy, and relaxation therapy have been tried.
3)Several classes of drugs have been used in patients with writer's cramp. Anticholinergics have been used with little or no effects.. Beta-blockers have helped the tremor in a few patients. Botulinum toxin injections seem to have the best results.
4)Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) delivered to the forearm flexor muscles for a 2-week period has been found to improve symptoms for up to 3 weeks after treatment.
CONCLUSION=
Approximately 5% of patients have spontaneous remission, most probably in the first 5 years. However, the majority of these patients have relapses.
The prognosis is good usually.
Do not consider such people to be mentally unsound.
Behavioural therapy helps a lot.
