Stiff person syndrome

Celine Dion canceled her upcoming tour after being diagnosed with this rare neurological condition. Here's what we know.

Because of how rare it is, stiff person syndrome is typically diagnosed by first ruling out other, more common conditions. The treatment for the condition is often a patchwork of medication and non-medication interventions, Dr. Diagnosing the condition takes a combination of tools, Dr. The rigidity and spasming can be treated with muscle relaxers and Botox injections. The presence of the chronic pain can also lead some patients to [develop anxiety](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11940-009-0013-9), depression and [phobias](https://n.neurology.org/content/64/11/1961.short) of going outside or trying new activities. There is no cure for stiff person syndrome, so doctors focus on symptom and pain management. The muscle spasms can be triggered by a variety of environmental factors, such as The exact cause of the condition is not clear, but “the immune system is involved,” said Dr. Stiff person syndrome often begins with stiffness in the torso and abdomen, which can then spread to the legs, arms and face, Dr. The syndrome is difficult to diagnose, Dr. [have been tied to](https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/stiff-person-syndrome) a slight increase in risk for developing the syndrome, Dr. It was first coined in the 1920s (as “stiff man syndrome”) after doctors