Neurologist Explains Kara Goucher's Runner's Dystonia

Elite long-distance runner Kara Goucher was recently diagnosed with a rare neurological disease called runner’s dystonia

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Dr. Brandon Beaber is a board-certified neurologist with subspecialty training in multiple sclerosis and other immunological diseases of the nervous system. He is a partner in the Southern California Permanente Medical Group and practices in Downey, California (South Los Angeles). He has several publications on MS epidemiology and has participated in clinical trials for MS therapeutics. You can follow him on twitter @Brandon_Beaber where he regularly posts about MS news and research.

he video material by Dr. Brandon Beaber is general educational material on health conditions and is not intended to be used by viewers to diagnose or treat any individual's medical condition. Specifically, this material is not a substitute for individualized diagnostic and treatment advice by a qualified medical/health practitioner, licensed in your jurisdiction, who has access to the relevant information available from diagnostic testing, medical interviews, and a physical examination. To the extent that Dr. Beaber endorses any lifestyle change, behavioral intervention, or supplements, the viewer should consult with a qualified healthcare professional to determine the safety and efficacy of the intervention in light of their individualized information.

[tombryantjumpscoach]

I can listen to a good doctor talk all day.

[AronQuint]

Very interesting, thank you for teaching you this. Have a great day Dr. Beaber.

[Tiare]

I’ve avoided doctors my whole life. I think I have PKD movement disorder. But ..Recently, spasms in my leg and feet started to constantly make me swing my left leg out in a circle and make my toes drag when I really am just trying to walk. It gets worse the more I walk, but this only happens in public. I’m going to the doctor very soon.😢

[suzanneknepp]

Very interesting video. I too, hope she has a rapid recovery.

[EvenSoItIsWell]

Thanks Dr. Beaber! Fascinating topic. Thanks for sharing. I always learn a little something from your videos. Could you do one on the difference between diabetic neuropathy and MS neuropathy?

[roberture]

Thank you dr. Brandon for a very interesting video. I can relate what Cara is going through. I was a runner myself before MS started kicking in. I hope in her case she has a very speedy recovery.

[donnabolt]

I hope she recovers 100%
Running is such a huge part of her life and it would be devastating for her to lose that. ( Us inflicted with MS can truly understand loss.)
Really liked learning about this!
Future video idea: how about autoimmune disease POTS. My cousin has it and most Dr's don't really know how to treat it and overall public awareness is really lacking.
Thanks!

[clovic]

Thank you again Dr Beaber. A question: if EBV is the cause for MS, would it explain why fatigue is the most common symptom in MS? As it is THE main symptom in EBV.

[emilyanne]

What’s the difference between dystonia vs spasticity?

[justinegalloway]

I have had runner's dystonia for the past 13 years.
I now run backwards! :)

[zaidbahri]

Dear doctor, could you also learn us more what lions mane can do in MS?
Many thanks from Belgium.

[broly]

I was diagnosed with MS and I have neuropathy in my upper and lower extremities

[HeatherQuinn]

I commented on your video about the yips, about my experience with task specific dystonia as a result of typing. Let me mention that I have been affected by a fluoroquinolone class antibiotic, this happened about 24 years ago, this class of antibiotic is known to affect the cns, mitochondrial dna, and collagen expression. I have found that I get soft tissue injuries far more frequently than I did before I was affected, and they take longer to heal. Everyday microdamage is more extensive and slower to heal. I'm currently self rehabbing a double right shoulder injury, and because of the complexity of the shoulder joint, strength and force imbalances are moving throughout that complexity. As a result, I am developing small and so far temporary task specific dystonias, one of which affected my watching this video. As I watched, my right thumb kept involuntarily contracting and hitting other videos to the right of yours, so I had to keep moving back to your video, lol. To break out of these dystonias when they occur, I am using the positional adjustment and movement rhythm techniques that I learned to use back in the day when I had the big typing task specific dystonia.

[samhall]

I’m not saying the is her. But I am wondering if it is possible to have a functional movement disorder only with running? Thanks!

[mirtylane]

Thank you for taking the time to discuss this unfortunate physical disability that Kara Goucher is suffering from, Dr. Beaber. I know Parkinson's disease has classic symptoms such as the "pill rolling" of the fingers and the tremor, shuffling gait, etc., but she mentioned that she got relief from a Parkinson's medication. Do you think there is a possibility that Kara has Parkinson's disease?

[katiemaureengoodwin]

This was very helpful and informative. Do you think it’s the correct diagnosis?