Understanding Movement Disorder Emergencies: Signs, Symptoms, and Solutions
Have you ever noticed unexplainable tremors, difficulty while moving your body, or muscle stiffness? These symptoms may seem normal at first but they might be signaling a suppressed health issue like movement disorder. Normally, the brain orchestrates smooth, coordinated movements, but movement disorders disrupt its control over voluntary and involuntary actions. These symptoms can worsen at an unexpected rate time, requiring urgent medical care to prevent serious complications. That is why recognizing the warning signs of movement disorders early is crucial for effective diagnosis and treatment. This blog will explain the various symptoms, signs to look out for, and solutions for movement disorder emergencies.
Recognizing The Warning Signs of Movement Disorders
The early signs may include:
- Trouble falling or staying asleep, vivid dreams, or restless legs.
- Persistent or recurring muscle or joint pain with no clear cause.
- Mild shaking of hands, head, or legs, especially at rest.
- Changes in handwriting, becoming smaller or cramped.
- Difficulty starting movements or performing tasks slowly.
Movement Disorder Symptoms
Tremors:
Tremors are when your body parts (more often, fingers and hands) tend to shake in a rhythmic pattern voluntarily. These can be annoying or disruptive, but many individuals manage their symptoms effectively with the right diagnosis and treatment. There are different types of tremors:
- Resting tremor: Occurs at rest, seen in Parkinson’s disease.
- Action tremor: This happens during voluntary movements, as in essential tremors.
- Postural tremor: Occurs when maintaining a position against gravity.
- Intention tremor: Worsens when trying to perform a precise movement, common in cerebellar disorders.
Bradykinesia:
It is a noticeable decrease in the speed and amplitude of voluntary movement. This happens due to dysfunction in the Basal ganglia. The common symptoms to look out for include: –
- Difficulty in starting a movement like taking the first step before walking.
- Reduced facial expressions.
- Difficulty with the motor tasks like buttoning a shirt, tying up your shoelaces, and writing.
Rigidity:
It refers to muscle stiffness and increased resistance to movement (often in arms, legs, and neck). This causes difficulty in performing your everyday activities. The most common symptoms to look out for are:
- You will feel stiffness in your muscles that won’t go away by stretching or any movement.
- Reduced range of motion in which common movements become jerky or difficult to complete.
Dystonic:
It is characterized by involuntary muscle contraction that causes abnormal postures, twisting movements, or repetitive motions. These muscle contractions can affect any body part, including the neck, arms, legs, or even the face. The basic symptoms to look out for are:
- Muscles contract in a way to twisting or abnormal positions like a tilted head or a clenched jaw.
- Repetitive movements like twisting and jerking of hands and feet.
- Constant pain and discomfort in muscles.
Chorea
Chorea refers to involuntary, irregular, and unpredictable movements that flow from one body part to another, often described as dance-like or jerky. The basic symptoms to look out for are:
- Jerky, random movements that can involve the arms, legs, face, and trunk.
- Movements appear fluid and may seem like they’re “flowing” from one part of the body to another.
- Difficulty maintaining posture due to the unpredictable nature of the movements.
Myoclonus:
The sudden, brief, involuntary muscle jerks or twitches that can affect a single muscle or group of muscles are called Myoclonus. It is caused by disruptions in the brain’s motor control system, often in the brainstem, which controls reflexes and automatic movements. The basic symptoms to look out for are:
- Quick, brief jerks or spasms of muscles, often in the arms or legs.
- It can occur randomly or in response to a stimulus.
- It can affect one or multiple muscles.
Tics:
Tics are sudden, repetitive movements or sounds that are difficult to control. They can be motor tics (which affect the movements) or vocal tics (which create sounds). Some of the symptoms are:
- Repetitive movements, such as blinking, head jerking, shoulder shrugging, or hand movements.
- Repetitive sounds like throat clearing, grunting, sniffing, or even speaking words or phrases.
- Individuals often feel an urge or sensation before a tic, which is relieved once the tic occurs.
If you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms, it is crucial to consult a neurologist to determine the underlying cause and explore treatment options.
Immediate Actions to Take in Movement Disorder Emergency
In a movement disorder emergency, quick action can prevent injury and reduce discomfort. Start by staying calm and ensuring safety, positioning the person to avoid falls or injury. Avoid forcing the person’s body into a normal position, as this could worsen muscle strain. Encourage calm breathing and reassure them, as stress can intensify symptoms. If symptoms heighten to cause problems like breathing difficulty, paralysis, or loss of consciousness, call for help immediately. Contact the person’s neurologist for further guidance, especially if symptoms are unusual or severe.
These emergencies require care and professional support. For in-home movement disorder care in Thousand Oaks, tailored to the needs of individuals, reach out to Family Ties Home Care. Our skilled caregivers provide personalized support, helping families navigate daily care and emergency situations with confidence.