If you have ever seen a person who walks ramrod straight, like a tin soldier, he or she is probably suffering from STIFF-MAN SYNDROME. This rare neurological disorder is also known as STIFF-PERSON SYNDROME (SPS), which is not only more politically correct but also more accurate, because the condition affects both men and women.
Stiff-Person Syndrome causes recurring bouts of muscle stiffness and spasms and is thought to be an autoimmune disorder. Indeed, it is more prevalent among people who have other autoimmune diseases, such as pernicious anemia, insulin-dependent diabetes, and hyperthyroidism.
The signs of stiff-person syndrome usually appear first in the muscles of the trunk. As it progresses, it spreads to the limbs and may cause joint deformity, other joint and skeletal problems, and disability.
Attacks are often set off when the person is emotionally stressed or something, such as a loud noise, suddenly scares or surprises the person. Unfortunately, stiff-person syndrome is often misdiagnosed as a psychological disorder, multiple sclerosis, or Parkinson's disease, thus delaying appropriate treatment.
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