According to a story from Yahoo! News, Huw Williams, a notable UK radio presenter, was just days away from performing in front of Bruce Springsteen when he was diagnosed with dystonia, a rare muscle disorder. Huw describes the first symptoms as small muscle spasms impacting his fingers and throat, inhibiting his ability to play music.
Huw’s Story
Eventually the symptoms got progressively worse until they became impossible to ignore:
“I thought I was doing OK when, a few days before I was due to fly out, my producer said, ‘What on earth’s happened to your voice?’ ” – Huw Williams
He began to receive treatment in the form of vitamin supplements and injections, but Huw found that he would have to rebuild his guitar and singing skills. Huw made a breakthrough in December last year when he was able to tap into a different part of his vocal cords. He began to try to sing and speak using more of his diaphragm, which wasn’t impacted by spasms, and less of his throat.
Huw has been practicing for his next big public performance at the Tredegar Park Folk Festival, which is slated for May 12, 2024.
“Fingers crossed, it will be a marvelous recreation of the best of me. But there’s no cure for what I have, it can return at any time, so if the audience sees me punch the air at the end, they’ll know I’ve got through it unscathed. It’ll be a very, very emotional event.” – Huw
About Dystonia
Dystonia is a rare and unusual neurological disorder that is characterized by repetitive movements and muscle contractions that can result in abnormal postures. The movements can resemble a tremble and often worsen with physical activity. Symptoms can progress to affect more muscles over time. The cause of dystonia varies; in some cases, the cause is unknown, but it can be caused by brain inflammation, drug reactions, and head injuries. Repetitive use of certain muscles can cause those muscles to be affected; this is called focal dystonia. They appear in people who require precise muscle function, such as artists or musicians. There are some medications and management approaches that can provide some relief, but there is no real cure. To learn more about dystonia, click here.
