Celine Dion and Stiff Person Syndrome, Can it be Cured?
Celine Dion has revealed that she has been diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome (SPS), a rare neurological disorder that causes muscle stiffness and painful muscle spasms.
“While we’re still learning about this rare condition, we now know this is what’s been causing all of the spasms I’ve been having,”
“Unfortunately, these spasms affect every aspect of my daily life, sometimes causing difficulties when I walk and not allowing me to use my vocal chords to sing the way I’m used to,” she said.
Due to SPS, Celine Dion announced that she would be postponing her scheduled spring shows and canceling her summer shows.
What is stiff-person syndrome?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, stiff-person syndrome is a rare autoimmune disease that attacks the central nervous system, such as the brain and spinal cord. Someone who has this rare disease will experience muscle stiffness that radiates to the legs and other parts of the body.
Stiff muscles can strike suddenly or be triggered by loud noises, stress, or even touch. This condition can then make it difficult for sufferers to walk or move.
What causes SPS?
Reporting from the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), the cause of stiff-person syndrome is not known with certainty. In fact, there is only one in a million people who have experienced this condition.
Meanwhile, according to the Cleveland Clinic, there are certain health conditions that will increase a person's risk of developing stiff-person syndrome, such as: Autoimmune diseases, including diabetes, thyroid disorders, vitiligo, and pernicious anemia. Several types of cancer, such as breast, lung, kidney, thyroid, colon, and Hodgkin's lymphoma.
It occurs in an estimated 1 in a million people, with the condition twice as common in women than in men.
What are the symptoms of SPS?
Symptoms of stiff-person syndrome will usually appear gradually and will cause paralysis, and will lead to death in some cases.
As with any medical condition, the severity of symptoms fall along a spectrum — some people have very mild symptoms, others have quite severe symptoms. But in general, for most SPS patients, symptoms slowly progress over time. Rare desease summed up some of the symptoms of SPS:Back pain
Spine deformity
Muscle spasms
Agoraphobia or excessive anxiety in open places
Myocionus or muscle contractions such as twitches that are difficult to control
Thyroid inflammation
What treatments are available?
Treatment for stiff-person syndrome is based on the patient's symptoms.
Neurologist will gives treatment for SPS involves a two-pronged approach, with treatments targeting symptom management, and treatments targeting the immune system. Symptomatic treatments lessen the muscle cramps and spasms. For that, Neurologist generally give a benzodiazepine such as diazepam or muscle spasm relievers such as baclofen and gabapentin.
The other half of the treatment approach involves dampening down the immune system attack on the body. That’s where IVIg [intravenous immune globulin therapy] falls. We also use some other immunosupressive medications off-label.
the clinical trial that initially showed that high-dose IVIg significantly improved stiffness, spasms, and gait over a three-month period in people with SPS.
Check with your doctor if you experience frequent and even severe muscle spasms and stiffness and interfere with your daily activities.
If you still have questions about Stiff-person syndrome, consult to a neurologist.
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