Here are five things you should know about SPS...

It’s unclear if stiff-person syndrome is an autoimmune condition.

An autoimmune condition causes your immune system to mistakenly attack healthy parts of your body. This seems to be the case with stiff-person syndrome but it causes unrelated symptoms too.

At least 80% of people with stiff-person syndrome experience anxiety (or other mental health conditions).Other common symptoms include muscle stiffness or rigidity and difficulty walking.

Almost all people with stiff-person syndrome experience anxiety.

“So helpful to have a supportive community in my pocket”

A diagnosis for stiff-person syndrome is often made by ruling out other diseases.

Doctors typically evaluate a patient’s symptoms, review their medical history, perform an exam and order tests to support the diagnosis.

There’s no cure, so treatment for stiff-person syndrome aims to control symptoms and improve mobility. This can include medications and physical or occupational therapy.

Stiff-person syndrome treatment varies depending on a patient’s symptoms.

The cause of stiff-person syndrome is unknown.

Though it's not a condition inherited from your parents, some genetic factors may by involved in who gets SPS. The specifics are speculative, and it’s an area of research medical experts need to look into more closely.

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