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Hi All


Anne Rutherford wrote to a friend to ask this question
<<the patient says dystonia is due to lack of l-dopa
and the neuro  says  it is too much l-dopa>>

> who is correct?  patient or neuro?

this is  the answer  I received
<<<<
After consulting Dr. Cheryl Waters' book-'Diagnosis and Management of
Parkinson's  Disease'.
I would probably comment that both are correct, and incorrect.

"dystonia"  or dystonic posturing-as every Parkinsonian knows(!), can be a
symptom of the underlying condition(foot & toe dystonias) or/and a type of
dyskinesia (as opposed to the chorea-type movements that most people think
of when they hear the word  'dyskinesia'.)

As time elapses and the Parkinson's progresses, so do the symptoms and
side-effects tend to become more pronounced and troublesome. I have seen
Parkinsonians with the most excruciatingly painful "off" dystonias, and
one
need only observe Michael J Fox's left hand to see an example of 'on'
dystonia.

hope this helps
Anne