One thing to remember Kimberlee is that there is no single definition that
is a catch all phrase for diagnosing musclular movement.  Much is subjective
and open to interpretation.  There are no lab tests for cp except for CT and
MRI scans but, even then cp is often a diagnosis of last resort after other
syndromes have been ruled out.
Take the diagnosis that gets your kid help.  Dyskinesia just means (quoting
good old Mosby's) an impairment of the ability to execute voluntary
movements.  Its not a diagnosis its a symptom.  It can be paired with
dyspraxia which an impairment of skilled, coordinated movemtnes in the
absence of any associated defect in motor or sensory function.
Your docs may be thinking of dyskinetic syndrome which is a form of cp
involving the basal ganglion.  This is the same portion of the brain that is
affected by Parkisonianism.
A lot of children with cp have low tone in their trunks and higher tone in
their limbs.  Some children have a more rigid spasticity and will seem to
keep their shape when placed down.
Then to further complicate matters, many children show mixed patterns.
Hope that helps a little bit.

Beth t. the OT

-----Original Message-----
From: St. John's University Cerebral Palsy List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Kimberlee Ames
Sent: Sunday, September 29, 2002 8:40 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Fibromyalgia now diagnosing with dystonia


My son has all the reflexes present, and he did not always have the movement
pattern that he has now.  I also do not see the movements that my son has in
spastic children, so maybe we are not talking about the same type of
movements, or perhaps many spastic CPers have an overlay of dystonia.  I'd
like to know the difference, because we've had many doctors label him as a
spastic quad, along with a reference to "diskinesis" (sp?).  Do all spastic
CPers have the fluctuating tone?

Kimberlee, mom to Stefan (4, CP) and Alex (9)