functional dystonia from excessive exercise ? help !

[christopher_cms]

hi ... i am 63 ... i was diagnosed in 2016 with functional dystonia ... it affects my entire left leg down to my toes ... the symptoms started in 2014 ... rigidity, tightness, frozen gait ... the muscles engage but won't relax ... very painful ... can't even walk ... have been on crutches for last 4 years ... i believe this resulted from excessive, repetitive, improper, over-use and mis-use of my leg muscles while working out for hours on end ... anyone else experience this ...?

i have gone from being the most active person on the planet to not even being able to walk to the mailbox ... please help ! ... thanks

[Hidden]

Well I cant say it has happened the same way but it has happened to me. My hand or arm would curl and freeze leaving me with one usable arm/hand. Also I use a walker occasionally to get around I also couldn't stand or walk for days before.

[christopher_cms in reply to Hidden]

hi matthew ... thanks ... were you diagnosed with dystonia by a movement disorders doctor ?

[Chingona]

Hey Christopher,

In the beginning of the year I was training for a triathlon then in the summer I was training for a 7k and running over 20 miles a week. I’ve struggled with Epilepsy and left side weakness/numbness/ pain for almost two years. And I don’t know if I overdid the running but by August my left shin, ankle and IT band were so painful and fibular head in my leg started protruding and now all the bones near my knee are protruding. It just aches all the time. Physical therapist said that my bones were rotating due to muscle weakness ( muscles hold your bones in place! Lol) It doesn’t sound like I have the exact same issue your having, but I feel like for me it was a combination of left side weakness and over use (high impact running). I’ve been using TENS/muscle building treatment, lifting weights, and cycling to try to build up my strength. I also have been seeing a DOM and I only have had one session and it really helped he did deep tissue massage and acupuncture.

[christopher_cms in reply to Chingona]

hi chin ... therapists always say you have a muscle imbalance ... they told me the same way ... but finally after seeing over 20 doctors and having un-necessary spine surgery

because the neuro thought it was coming from my spine, i saw a movement disorders specialist who diagnosed me with functional dystonia ... you don't want dystonia but if you think you might have it you need to see a movement disorders doc ... make sense ? ... btw, i was working out 3 hours a day and the result i believe was dystonia ... christopher

[christopher_cms]

have you been diagnosed with dystonia by a movement disorders doctor ?