Doctor, Doctor...
By Dave Hall
For all you hypochondriacs out there, Dave Hall continues his regular look at a some of the more unusual medical conditions, as well as some you thought you knew all about.
This week: STIFF MAN SYNDROME.
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Condition – Stiff-man syndrome or stiff person syndrome is a rare nerve system disorder of which the cause is unknown. The condition is characterised by fluctuating muscle contractions, leading to intense discomfort and stiffness, and can occur in all muscles of the body. Although little is know about the disease, it is thought that it may be auto immune to some degree, where the body attacks it’s own cells. It was first diagnosed by Moersch and Woltman at the Mayo Clinic, in Minnesota in 1956.
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Contagion – Not contagious as far as is known, more likely to be a disorder that develops as you get older.
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| Danger of death – This has not been noted, but the condition may lead to muscle rupture, broken bones as well as problems swallowing and breathing in severe cases. |  |
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Incurability? – There is no known cure for this condition, so the treatment is mainly palliative, with the use of muscle relaxants and painkillers.
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Likelihood of getting time off work – It may just be that instead of looking for time off, you may just end up taking half a day to walk to work with this condition, so it will be out of your hands.
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| Brag-ability – Your friends will just think you have a bad back, so you may want to play on this a little more to make sure you get the maximum sympathy. |
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Overall ridiculousness – The name certainly sounds a little unusual and the condition will leave you feeling blue. Because of its rarity, you could at least sell your story, however. |
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More conditions to come soon:
Measles, Hypertricosis and more.
Find more curious conditions in Doctor Doctor. If you can't wait for the next Doctor Doctor, then why not find a Phunny Phobia to keep you going?
Photo: Grays/Mikael Häggström/Wiki
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