Here’s everything we know about “stiff person syndrome.”

Formed the statements of the world singer Celine Dion On his cessation of presenting some international shows due to his rare disease known as stiff person syndrome, the focus of attention of thousands of people around the world during the recent period, and many wondered what is this disease, how is infected, and treatment modalities.
The famous star posted a video clip through her account on the site Instagramin which he explains his decision to postpone her singing tour For the year 2023, due to his health conditions, which raised many question marks about the causes of his infection with this disease and the extent of its danger to patients.
According to the definition of the American University of Yale, “stiff person syndrome” is a type of neurological disorder that causes Stiffness and spasms In the trunk and limbs, it is a rare neurological disease that causes stiffness and thus the inability of people to carry out daily activities normally.
One neurologist, venerating the groom, defines “stiff person syndrome” as a disease that affects the nerves and muscles of the body in these limbs so that the injured person is unable to move them.
The doctor adds: “There is no clear reason as to the causes of this disease, and usually the patient cannot be diagnosed with this type of disorder because the symptoms usually resemble different diseases, and therefore the accuracy of his diagnosis requires tools that may not be available except in medical centers that specialize in this type of disorder.” Ailments The symptoms of the disease differ from one person to another, as a patient may become unable to walk or even perform routine daily activities, while other people suffer from body aches only.
According to data from Johns Hopkins Hospital, the number of people infected with this disease in the world does not exceed a few thousand, since the disorder affects one or two people in every million people, but the real rate could be much higher than that because symptoms can reflect many other medical problems, such as Parkinson’s disease, fibromyalgia, or conditions such as anxiety and phobias.

Stiff person syndrome affects women more than men

Stiff-person syndrome is thought to have characteristics of an autoimmune disease, according to the U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, and is considered one of the diseases that are not related to external causes, such as diet, exercise programs, and other.

Stiff person syndrome affects women more than men, and most patients begin to feel symptoms in their thirties and sixties, and the syndrome is often associated with other autoimmune diseases, such as diabetes, pernicious anemia, and ‘hypothyroidism.
While the exact cause of the disease is unclear, the US National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke states: “Affected people have elevated levels of an antibody known as GAD, which acts against an important neurotransmitter enzyme in the brain.”
Because the disease is rare and its symptoms are vague, people often seek treatment for chronic pain before seeking neurological care. On average, it takes about 7 years for someone to be diagnosed with stiff person syndrome.
The initial symptoms of the disease appear as stiffness in the muscles of the trunk, arms and legs, and symptoms may develop as the disease progresses, such that the patient becomes unable to control some limbs, and the patient is likely to become more susceptible to injury when exposed to noise or bright lighting, according to a John Hospital Hopkins report, as they can act as triggers for muscle spasms over time, and sufferers can develop a form of paralysis that prevents them from being able to move.

Muscle stiffness commonly occurs after overuse of skeletal muscles. For example, staying in bed for a long time can cause muscle atrophy, or a new type of sport leads to muscle stiffness or stiffness. These factors are temporary and cause harm. For cellular muscles, but in the case of chronic disease, the survival of muscles in a state of stiffness is continuous, which leads to a constant sensation of pain.

There is no specific treatment for this disease and there are some hospitals around the world that can deal with it, especially in the United States, such as Johns Hopkins and Cleveland hospitals, so patients may need to travel to see a specialist and get treatment personal.
Al-Aris explains that doctors prescribe certain medications to control symptoms and pain, including muscle relaxants and sedatives, and in advanced stages of the disease physical therapy sessions may be needed to dismantle the sclerosis, and this type of ailment can also be treated to target the immune system through pharmaceuticals.
Dr Emile Sami, from the Stiff Person Syndrome Center at Johns Hopkins Hospital, says: ‘Immunoglobulin medications can help reduce sensitivity to light or sound stimuli, which can help avoid seizures. Pain relievers, anti- anxiety and muscle relaxants are part of the treatment and injections of botulinum toxin are also used: “If left untreated, the disease can impair the patient’s ability to meet the demands of daily life.”