People can develop breathing difficulties as the condition progresses.

This article describes the symptoms, diagnostic process, and treatments of stiff person syndrome.

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Symptoms: How Does Stiff Person Syndrome Feel?

Person feels stiffness in their knee

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It may make it hard to breathe.

If you have stiff person syndrome, you could have trouble with day-to-day activities, including self-care.

If you have been diagnosed with stiff person syndrome, you may experience worsening symptoms in response to triggers.

you’re able to also have worsening symptoms without any triggers.

The symptoms occur due to a deficit ofgamma-aminobutyric acid(GABA) in the nerves that control your muscles.

GABA is a neurotransmitter that helps balance nerve activity throughout the body, preventing excess nerve activity.

In stiff person syndrome, this deficiency prevents muscles from relaxing as they should.

Risk Factors

There is no known underlying hereditary pattern or risk factor for developing stiff person syndrome.

The condition is extremely rare, and there isnt a gene or environmental exposure known to cause it.

Paraneoplastic syndromes are rare, and having stiff person syndrome does not necessarily mean that you have underlying cancer.

Treatments to Manage SPS Pain

Some treatments are available for managing stiff person syndrome.

Coping involves practical strategies to help manage your symptoms and maintain your comfort while maximizing your quality of life.

It can also cause discomfort or pain.

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Dalakas MC.Therapies in stiff-person syndrome: advances and future prospects based on disease pathophysiology.Neurol Neuroimmunol Neuroinflamm.

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