Living with Dystonia

Rogers Hartmann was active and healthy before she was stricken by dystonia.
Imagine being an active, 30-something woman one day. Then, just a few weeks later, you find yourself bedridden and unable to control your body.

In May 2008, Rogers Hartmann, a television and film producer, says she woke up with a stiff neck, and her head was tilting to the right. Within a week, Rogers' body was fully contorted and bent at a 90-degree angle.

After a series of misdiagnoses, Rogers was diagnosed with dystonia, a rare neurological disorder that causes her muscles to pull her body to the right. The tug-of-war going on inside her body causes excruciating pain.

"I'm a 37-year-old woman, but I feel 80 or 90," she says. "It just feels like muscle contractions you can't control, and as the day progresses and depending on how much I do that day, I'm more and more crooked to the right."
Related Resources
  • Michael J. Fox's life with Parkinson's
  • Find out more about Rogers Hartmann and dystonia at LifewithDystonia.com
  • For information from the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation, visit www.dystonia-foundation.org
  • Get information from the Bachmann-Strauss Dystonia & Parkinson Foundation at www.dystonia-parkinsons.org

From The Oprah Winfrey Show Dr. Oz and Michael J. Fox




As a reminder, always consult your doctor for medical advice and treatment before starting any program.