It’s said that Nero fiddled while Rome burned–by comparison to a musician in China’s activities during brain surgery, Nero had it easy. Imagine jamming out on your guitar while surgeons operate on you! That’s what one man did in an effort to save his ability to continuing on his musical path.
Stricken with focal dystonia, also referred to as “musician’s dystonia” because it affects musicians in disproportionate numbers, the patient stayed awake and played during the entire procedure so the surgeons could “reboot” his finger muscles through electrical brain stimulation. Both the patient and the doctors were pleased with the results–the patient is able to continue playing his instrument.
Dystonia is a neurological condition that causes muscles to cramp involuntarily.
It can be idiopathic, meaning the cause is unknown; it can be caused by trauma; and in rare cases, genetics are to blame. Task-specific dystonia is actually focal, and results from repetitive motion in many cases, such as a guitar player practicing for hours and hours, or typing on a keyboard constantly.
Apart from brain surgery, medications and physical therapy can help ease symptoms.
Botulinium toxin (commonly known as Botox) is widely used to help focal dystonia suffers and seems to be the most effective; however, there are other classes of medications that offer relief. These include anticholinergic agents, GABAergtic agents, and Dopaminergic agents.
