Dystonia Society U.K

My name is Phil Roberts and have suffered Cervical Dystonia following a car accident in 2004 whilst on duty working as a police officer . The condition is currently being controlled with Botox injection every 12 -14 weeks at Walton Centre Liverpool.I was Ill health retired in 2015 due to the condition.

I started to run in 2019 and recently completed the Chester Half Marathon . My ultimate aim is a full marathon however my neck can become problematic,painful by the end of 13 miles . I am now running the Cardiff half marathon on October 1st this year. Lots of people have never heard of the condition Dystonia which is the name for uncontrolled and sometimes painful muscle movements (spasms). It's usually a lifelong problem, but treatment can help relieve the symptoms.

Symptoms of dystonia include:uncontrolled muscle cramps and spasmsparts of your body twisting into unusual positions – such as your neck being twisted to the side or your feet turning inwards shaking (tremors) and uncontrolled blinking . The condition can affect one part of your body (focal dystonia), two or more adjacent parts (segmental dystonia), or all parts of your body (general dystonia). The muscle spasms can range from mild to severe. They may be painful, and they can interfere with your performance of daily tasks. The disorder may be hereditary or caused by other factors such as birth-related or other physical trauma, infection, poisoning (e.g., lead poisoning) or reaction to pharmaceutical drugs, particularly neuroleptics,[3] or stress. Treatment must be highly customized to the needs of the individual and may include oral medications, chemodenervation botulinum neurotoxin injections, physical therapy, or other supportive therapies, and surgical procedures such as deep brain stimulation .Do you want to join me in making a difference? I'm raising money in aid of The Dystonia Society and every donation will help. Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.

More information about The Dystonia Society: Dystonia UK is the only UK wide organisation driven to ensure that the 100,000 people across the country with dystonia have access to crucial information support and essential treatment. We exist to give hope and support to those living with dystonia creating UK and worldwide