Stiff Person Syndrome

The stiff person syndrome (SPS), also known as stiff-man syndrome, is a neurological disorder, a disease that affects the central nervous system. As this disease was first described by Moersch and Woltmann, it is also known as the Moersch-Woltmann syndrome. Although there is no known exact prevalence of the disease, it is extremely rare. The definite cause of the disease is also unknown. However, there are several hypotheses that attempt to determine the cause of the disease. It is considered as an autoimmune disease just like hyperthyroidism, pernicious anemia or the diabetes.

This disease can be observed in both men and women. A person can contract this disease at any age in his life. Unfortunately, as the symptoms vary and are not distinguishing, this disorder is often confused as other diseases, like Parkinson's disease or fibromyalgia.

Stiff-man Syndrome Symptoms
As the name suggests, the prominent symptom of this disease is stiffness of the muscles. The stiffness or the contraction of the muscles is involuntary and of a peculiar type. It is observed mostly in the muscles of the trunk and limbs. The rigidity of the muscles is more prominently seen in the back or the upper legs leading to stiffened walk.

• Extreme sensitivity to touch and noise
• Backward curved or hunched back (kyphosis)
• Forward curved vertebral column (lordosis)
• Muscle spasm
• Muscle tetany
• Inability to move quickly
• Unsteady gait

The symptoms become severe as the disease progresses. It is also found that sleeping can help in reducing the stiffness or rigidity, whereas, anxiety or stress can make the symptoms more frequent and severe. Once the person realizes this, he avoids going out in the public to avoid stress, noise and touch. It is also found that a person suffering from this syndrome is more susceptible to other autoimmune diseases like the diabetes or thyroiditis.

Treating Stiff-man Syndrome
As the disease is extremely rare, there can be a misinterpretation of the symptoms. At the same time, there cannot be a definite prognosis of the severity of the disease. It can lead to complications like bone fractures and other injuries to the muscles of the spinal cord. The electromyograph is an effective tool that helps in the diagnosis of neuromuscular disorders. Electromyography and physical examination is used for the diagnosis of stiff-man syndrome. Similarly, blood / urine tests and Thyroid Hormone Stimulating (TSH) tests are also performed to diagnose the presence of diabetes or thyroiditis.

Medications and pain relievers can help to alleviate the symptoms. Muscles relaxant drugs like Benzodiazepines are given to the patients to reduce stiffness. Secondly, according to certain studies, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVI) is also an effective therapy. The prescription of drugs and medications is given, keeping the person's overall health in mind, as there are high chances of the person suffering from diabetes as well.

It should be remembered that stiff person syndrome is a life-threatening condition, and hence, needs to be treated quickly. Although there is no permanent curative available to cure the disease; the present treatment methods can definitely help in alleviating the symptoms to ease the discomfort. If proper and timely curatives are taken, the person suffering from this syndrome can perform all day-to-day activities without any difficulty and also live a normal life.