Dystonia Clinic

A view of the UFCMDNR clinic space from the nurses' station
A view of the UF Movement Disorders clinic space from the nurses’ station

Neurologists who specialize in dystonia care see patients each week in the Movement Disorders clinic. The physicians spend time with each patient diagnosing and optimizing therapy. Clinics include new patient evaluations, botulinum toxin treatments, return patient clinics, programming DBS devices, and other medical and surgical treatments.

What makes UF’s clinic different is that the physicians spend the time necessary to deliver the best possible patient care. They have the advantage of a supporting staff and interdisciplinary team that is as good as anywhere in the world.

At every appointment, physicians have the patient perform a standardized rating scale for dystonia (Unified Dystonia Rating Scale, Burke-Fahn-Marsden etc). They also note all of the medications a patient may be taking; the patient will also recount a complete history of their disorder and fill out several quality-of-life questionnaires (QOLs).

From this information, the movement disorder neurologists will make a diagnosis and have a long discussion with the patient about options. The interdisciplinary team will be made available to the patient to take care of every possible need. If surgery is needed the workup is initiated and a special fast track process started.

Every patient is given the option, on site, of participating in cutting edge research about their movement disorder. Read more about it on the Research page.

For more information about the surgical or medical treatment of dystonia or to refer a patient, call the University of Florida Consultation Center  (352-294-5400). If you are a new patient they will walk you through the process of getting an appointment.